WP2.8 - Patient experience of surgeon-patient communication in general surgery in Northern Ireland: a qualitative analysis

Abstract Aims This project explores the patient experience and perception of surgeon-patient communication in general surgery in Northern Ireland. Through qualitative analysis of patient feedback, this project aims to identify pertinent aspects of communication that significantly impact the patient experience within the context of inpatient surgical care, and compare this to existing literary consensus. Methods Patient feedback data was collected from Care Opinion, accessed at https://www.careopinion.org.uk. Search parameters included stories about general surgery and communication, spanning a period of twelve months, submitted from the five health and social care trusts in Northern Ireland. 121 of 178 search returns met the inclusion criteria for analysis. Braun and Clarke’s Thematic Analysis framework was selected for coding data and identifying themes and understand participant experiences within the data set. Results Three themes emerged from analysis of patient feedback. These themes were the aspects of patient-doctor communication that were valued most by patients during admission. They include the pitch at which information is delivered, the frequency of updates patients were given regarding their care, and provision of question and answer opportunity with their surgeon. Conclusions The important discovery from this analysis is that contemporary literary knowledge does not fully represent the patient experience of doctor-patient communication in Northern Ireland. Instead, analysis of patient feedback has identified new aspects of communication that most impact patient experience, and has yielded new means of understanding and achieving patient-centred practice.