Family Members' Roles in Veterans Health Care Decisions: A Multiple Goals Perspective

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven R. Wilson ◽  
Patricia E. Gettings ◽  
Elizabeth Dorrance Hall
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Veterans Health ◽  
Multiple Goals ◽  
Health Care Decisions

scholarly journals Family health care decision making and self-efficacy with patients with ALS at the end of life

2008 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 273-280 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marie T. Nolan ◽  
Joan Kub ◽  
Mark T. Hughes ◽  
Peter B. Terry ◽  
Alan B. Astrow ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
End Of Life ◽  
Shared Decision Making ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Shared Decision ◽  
Health Care Decisions ◽  
The Family ◽  
Care Decision ◽  
Made In

ABSTRACTObjective:Persons with ALS differ from those with other terminal illnesses in that they commonly retain capacity for decision making close to death. The role patients would opt to have their families play in decision making at the end of life may therefore be unique. This study compared the preferences of patients with ALS for involving family in health care decisions at the end of life with the actual involvement reported by the family after death.Methods:A descriptive correlational design with 16 patient–family member dyads was used. Quantitative findings were enriched with in-depth interviews of a subset of five family members following the patient's death.Results:Eighty-seven percent of patients had issued an advance directive. Patients who would opt to make health care decisions independently (i.e., according to the patient's preferences alone) were most likely to have their families report that decisions were made in the style that the patient preferred. Those who preferred shared decision making with family or decision making that relied upon the family were more likely to have their families report that decisions were made in a style that was more independent than preferred. When interviewed in depth, some family members described shared decision making although they had reported on the survey that the patient made independent decisions.Significance of results:The structure of advance directives may suggest to families that independent decision making is the ideal, causing them to avoid or underreport shared decision making. Fear of family recriminations may also cause family members to avoid or underreport shared decision making. Findings from this study might be used to guide clinicians in their discussions of treatments and health care decision making with persons with ALS and their families.

Health Communication: Implications for Diverse Populations

2011 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 12-19
Author(s):  
Amy Hasselkus
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Communication ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Linguistically Diverse ◽  
Good Health ◽  
The United States ◽  
Poor Health ◽  
Health Care Decisions ◽  
Diverse Backgrounds ◽  
Health Related

The need for improved communication about health-related topics is evident in statistics about the health literacy of adults living in the United States. The negative impact of poor health communication is huge, resulting in poor health outcomes, health disparities, and high health care costs. The importance of good health communication is relevant to all patient populations, including those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Efforts are underway at all levels, from individual professionals to the federal government, to improve the information patients receive so that they can make appropriate health care decisions. This article describes these efforts and discusses how speech-language pathologists and audiologists may be impacted.

Teletinnitus Program at the VA Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System

2014 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-29
Author(s):  
Constance Hilory Tomberlin
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Patient Satisfaction ◽  
Patient Care ◽  
Health Care System ◽  
Gulf Coast ◽  
New Technology ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Veterans Health ◽  
Potential Benefits ◽  
Care System

There are a multitude of reasons that a teletinnitus program can be beneficial, not only to the patients, but also within the hospital and audiology department. The ability to use technology for the purpose of tinnitus management allows for improved appointment access for all patients, especially those who live at a distance, has been shown to be more cost effective when the patients travel is otherwise monetarily compensated, and allows for multiple patient's to be seen in the same time slots, allowing for greater access to the clinic for the patients wishing to be seen in-house. There is also the patient's excitement in being part of a new technology-based program. The Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System (GCVHCS) saw the potential benefits of incorporating a teletinnitus program and began implementation in 2013. There were a few hurdles to work through during the beginning organizational process and the initial execution of the program. Since the establishment of the Teletinnitus program, the GCVHCS has seen an enhancement in patient care, reduction in travel compensation, improvement in clinic utilization, clinic availability, the genuine excitement of the use of a new healthcare media amongst staff and patients, and overall patient satisfaction.

Digital Home Health Care: Culture-Specific Observations in Saudi Arabia (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdulaziz A Alodhayani ◽  
Marwah Mazen Hassounah ◽  
Fatima R Qadri ◽  
Noura A Abouammoh ◽  
Zakiuddin Ahmed ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Home Health Care ◽  
Health Program ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Local Population ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Cultural Factors ◽  
Home Health ◽  
Design And Implementation

BACKGROUND There is growing evidence of the need to consider cultural factors in the design and implementation of digital health interventions. However, there is still inadequate knowledge pertaining to what aspects of the Saudi Arabian culture need to be considered in the design and implementation of digital health programs, especially in the context of home health care services for chronically and terminally ill patients. OBJECTIVE This study aims to explore the specific cultural factors relating to patients and their caregivers from the perspective of physicians, nurses, and trainers that have influenced the pilot implementation of Remotely Accessible Healthcare At Home (RAHAH); a connected health program in the Home Health Care Department at King Saud University Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. METHODS A qualitative study design was adopted to conduct a focus group discussion (FGD) in July 2019 using a semi-structured interview guide with 3 female and 4 male participants working as nurses, family physicians, and information technologists. Qualitative data obtained were analyzed using a thematic framework analysis. RESULTS Two categories emerged from the FGD that influenced the experiences of digital health program intervention: (1) culture-related factors including language and communication, cultural views on using cameras during consultation, non-adherence to online consultations, and family role and commitment (2) caregiver characteristics in telemedicine that includes their skills and education and electronic literacy. Participants of this study revealed that indirect contact with the patients and their family members may work as a barrier to proper communication through RAHAH. CONCLUSIONS We recommend exploring the use of interpreters in digital health, creating awareness among the local population regarding privacy in digital health, and actively involving the direct family members with the healthcare providers.

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