[Involving family members of chronically ill patients in physician-patient communication]. 2012

G Wilz, and F Meichsner
Institut für Psychologie, Abteilung Klinisch-Psychologische Intervention, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Humboldt-Str. 11, 07743, Jena, Deutschland. gabriele.wilz@uni-jena.de

Involving family members in the patient's treatment is central for coping with chronic diseases. The family's functioning and their involvement in the treatment process have a significant influence on compliance as well as on the patient's coping and quality of life. This article illustrates this broad topic through selected aspects. First, the importance of the family for the patient's coping and quality of life is highlighted in certain examples. Criteria for the family's involvement and important topics for the doctor's encounter with family members are introduced. Second, the necessities, problems, and consequences of doctor-family communication are illustrated for the examples of stroke and dementia. Overall, there is only limited time to include the family in in-patient as well as out-patient care. As a result, physician-family communication is not integrated sufficiently in general care, even for chronic diseases.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D010358 Patient Participation Patient involvement in the decision-making process in matters pertaining to health. Patient Activation,Patient Empowerment,Patient Engagement,Patient Involvement,Patient Participation Rates,Activation, Patient,Empowerment, Patient,Engagement, Patient,Involvement, Patient,Participation Rate, Patient,Participation Rates, Patient,Participation, Patient,Patient Participation Rate
D010817 Physician-Patient Relations The interactions between physician and patient. Doctor-Patient Relations,Doctor Patient Relations,Physician Patient Relations,Physician Patient Relationship,Doctor Patient Relation,Doctor-Patient Relation,Physician Patient Relation,Physician Patient Relationships,Physician-Patient Relation,Relation, Doctor Patient,Relation, Doctor-Patient,Relation, Physician Patient,Relation, Physician-Patient,Relations, Doctor Patient,Relations, Doctor-Patient,Relations, Physician Patient,Relations, Physician-Patient,Relationship, Physician Patient,Relationships, Physician Patient
D010819 Physician's Role The expected function of a member of the medical profession. Physicians' Role,Physician Role,Physician's Roles,Physicians Role,Physicians' Roles,Role, Physician's,Role, Physicians',Roles, Physician's,Roles, Physicians'
D011368 Professional-Family Relations The interactions between the professional person and the family. Professional Family Relationship,Family Relationship, Professional,Family Relationships, Professional,Professional Family Relations,Professional Family Relationships,Professional-Family Relation,Relation, Professional-Family,Relations, Professional-Family,Relationship, Professional Family,Relationships, Professional Family
D002908 Chronic Disease Diseases which have one or more of the following characteristics: they are permanent, leave residual disability, are caused by nonreversible pathological alteration, require special training of the patient for rehabilitation, or may be expected to require a long period of supervision, observation, or care (Dictionary of Health Services Management, 2d ed). For epidemiological studies chronic disease often includes HEART DISEASES; STROKE; CANCER; and diabetes (DIABETES MELLITUS, TYPE 2). Chronic Condition,Chronic Illness,Chronically Ill,Chronic Conditions,Chronic Diseases,Chronic Illnesses,Condition, Chronic,Disease, Chronic,Illness, Chronic
D005858 Germany A country in central Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and the North Sea, between the Netherlands and Poland, south of Denmark. The capital is Berlin.
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D017028 Caregivers Persons who provide care to those who need supervision or assistance in illness or disability. They may provide the care in the home, in a hospital, or in an institution. Although caregivers include trained medical, nursing, and other health personnel, the concept also refers to parents, spouses, or other family members, friends, members of the clergy, teachers, social workers, fellow patients. Family Caregivers,Informal Caregivers,Spouse Caregivers,Care Givers,Carers,Care Giver,Caregiver,Caregiver, Family,Caregiver, Informal,Caregiver, Spouse,Caregivers, Family,Caregivers, Informal,Caregivers, Spouse,Carer,Family Caregiver,Informal Caregiver,Spouse Caregiver
D018802 Patient-Centered Care Design of patient care wherein institutional resources and personnel are organized around patients rather than around specialized departments. (From Hospitals 1993 Feb 5;67(3):14) Nursing, Patient-Centered,Patient-Centered Nursing,Patient-Focused Care,Person-Centered Care,Medical Home,Care, Patient-Centered,Care, Patient-Focused,Care, Person-Centered,Cares, Person-Centered,Home, Medical,Homes, Medical,Medical Homes,Nursing, Patient Centered,Patient Centered Care,Patient Centered Nursing,Patient Focused Care,Person Centered Care,Person-Centered Cares

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