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Bishop FL, Cross N, Dewar-Haggart R, Teasdale E, Herbert A, Robinson ME, Ridd MJ, Mallen C, Clarson L, Bostock J, Becque T, Stuart B, Garfield K, Morrison L, Pollet S, Vennik J, Atherton H, Howick J, Leydon GM, Nuttall J, Islam N, Lee PH, Little P, Everitt HA. Talking in primary care (TIP): protocol for a cluster-randomised controlled trial in UK primary care to assess clinical and cost-effectiveness of communication skills e-learning for practitioners on patients' musculoskeletal pain and enablement. BMJ Open 2024; 14:e081932. [PMID: 38508652 PMCID: PMC10953007 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-081932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Effective communication can help optimise healthcare interactions and patient outcomes. However, few interventions have been tested clinically, subjected to cost-effectiveness analysis or are sufficiently brief and well-described for implementation in primary care. This paper presents the protocol for determining the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a rigorously developed brief eLearning tool, EMPathicO, among patients with and without musculoskeletal pain. METHODS AND ANALYSIS A cluster randomised controlled trial in general practitioner (GP) surgeries in England and Wales serving patients from diverse geographic, socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds. GP surgeries are randomised (1:1) to receive EMPathicO e-learning immediately, or at trial end. Eligible practitioners (eg, GPs, physiotherapists and nurse practitioners) are involved in managing primary care patients with musculoskeletal pain. Patient recruitment is managed by practice staff and researchers. Target recruitment is 840 adults with and 840 without musculoskeletal pain consulting face-to-face, by telephone or video. Patients complete web-based questionnaires at preconsultation baseline, 1 week and 1, 3 and 6 months later. There are two patient-reported primary outcomes: pain intensity and patient enablement. Cost-effectiveness is considered from the National Health Service and societal perspectives. Secondary and process measures include practitioner patterns of use of EMPathicO, practitioner-reported self-efficacy and intentions, patient-reported symptom severity, quality of life, satisfaction, perceptions of practitioner empathy and optimism, treatment expectancies, anxiety, depression and continuity of care. Purposive subsamples of patients, practitioners and practice staff take part in up to two qualitative, semistructured interviews. ETHICS APPROVAL AND DISSEMINATION Approved by the South Central Hampshire B Research Ethics Committee on 1 July 2022 and the Health Research Authority and Health and Care Research Wales on 6 July 2022 (REC reference 22/SC/0145; IRAS project ID 312208). Results will be disseminated via peer-reviewed academic publications, conference presentations and patient and practitioner outlets. If successful, EMPathicO could quickly be made available at a low cost to primary care practices across the country. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER ISRCTN18010240.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nadia Cross
- Primary Care Research Centre, School of Primary Care, Population Science, and Medical Education, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Rachel Dewar-Haggart
- School of Psychology, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
- Primary Care Research Centre, School of Primary Care, Population Science, and Medical Education, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Emma Teasdale
- School of Psychology, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
- Primary Care Research Centre, School of Primary Care, Population Science, and Medical Education, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Amy Herbert
- Centre of Academic Primary Care, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | | | - Matthew J Ridd
- Population Health Sciences, University of Bristol Faculty of Health Sciences, Bristol, UK
| | - Christian Mallen
- Keele School of Medicine, Keele University, Newcastle-under-Lyme, UK
| | - Lorna Clarson
- Keele School of Medicine, Keele University, Newcastle-under-Lyme, UK
| | - Jennifer Bostock
- Primary Care Research Centre, School of Primary Care, Population Science, and Medical Education, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Taeko Becque
- Primary Care Research Centre, School of Primary Care, Population Science, and Medical Education, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Beth Stuart
- Wolfson Institute of Population Health, Queen Mary University of London, London, London, UK
| | - Kirsty Garfield
- Health Economics Bristol, Population Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Leanne Morrison
- School of Psychology, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
- Primary Care Research Centre, School of Primary Care, Population Science, and Medical Education, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Sebastien Pollet
- School of Psychology, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
- Primary Care Research Centre, School of Primary Care, Population Science, and Medical Education, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Jane Vennik
- Primary Care Research Centre, School of Primary Care, Population Science, and Medical Education, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Helen Atherton
- Primary Care Research Centre, School of Primary Care, Population Science, and Medical Education, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
- Unit of Academic Primary Care, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | - Jeremy Howick
- Leicester Medical School, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
- Faculty of Philosophy, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Geraldine M Leydon
- Primary Care Research Centre, School of Primary Care, Population Science, and Medical Education, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Jacqui Nuttall
- Southampton Clinical Trials Unit, University of Southampton and University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK
| | - Nazrul Islam
- Primary Care Research Centre, School of Primary Care, Population Science, and Medical Education, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Paul H Lee
- Southampton Clinical Trials Unit, University of Southampton and University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK
| | - Paul Little
- Primary Care Research Centre, School of Primary Care, Population Science, and Medical Education, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Hazel A Everitt
- Primary Care Research Centre, School of Primary Care, Population Science, and Medical Education, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
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Keshtkar L, Madigan CD, Ward A, Ahmed S, Tanna V, Rahman I, Bostock J, Nockels K, Wang W, Gillies CL, Howick J. The Effect of Practitioner Empathy on Patient Satisfaction : A Systematic Review of Randomized Trials. Ann Intern Med 2024; 177:196-209. [PMID: 38285985 DOI: 10.7326/m23-2168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Practitioners who deliver enhanced empathy may improve patient satisfaction with care. Patient satisfaction is associated with positive patient outcomes ranging from medication adherence to survival. PURPOSE To evaluate the effect of health care practitioner empathy on patient satisfaction, using a systematic review of randomized trials. DATA SOURCES Ovid MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycInfo, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Scopus to 23 October 2023. STUDY SELECTION Randomized trials published in any language that evaluated the effect of empathy on improving patient satisfaction as measured on a validated patient satisfaction scale. DATA EXTRACTION Data extraction, risk-of-bias assessments, and strength-of-evidence assessments were done by 2 independent reviewers. Disagreements were resolved through consensus. DATA SYNTHESIS Fourteen eligible randomized trials (80 practitioners; 1986 patients) were included in the analysis. Five studies had high risk of bias, and 9 had some concerns about bias. The trials were heterogeneous in terms of geographic locations (North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa), settings (hospital and primary care), practitioner types (family and hospital physicians, anesthesiologists, nurses, psychologists, and caregivers), and type of randomization (individual patient or clustered by practitioner). Although all trials suggested a positive change in patient satisfaction, inadequate reporting hindered the ability to draw definitive conclusions about the overall effect size. LIMITATIONS Heterogeneity in the way that empathy was delivered and patient satisfaction was measured and incomplete reporting leading to concerns about the certainty of the underpinning evidence. CONCLUSION Various empathy interventions have been studied to improve patient satisfaction. Development, testing, and reporting of high-quality studies within well-defined contexts is needed to optimize empathy interventions that increase patient satisfaction. PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE Stoneygate Trust. (PROSPERO: CRD42023412981).
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Affiliation(s)
- Leila Keshtkar
- Stoneygate Centre for Empathic Healthcare, Leicester Medical School, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom (L.K., A.W., I.R., J.H.)
| | - Claire D Madigan
- Centre for Lifestyle Medicine and Behaviour (CLiMB), The School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, United Kingdom (C.D.M.)
| | - Andy Ward
- Stoneygate Centre for Empathic Healthcare, Leicester Medical School, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom (L.K., A.W., I.R., J.H.)
| | | | - Vinay Tanna
- Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester Foundation Trust, Manchester, United Kingdom (V.T.)
| | - Ismail Rahman
- Stoneygate Centre for Empathic Healthcare, Leicester Medical School, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom (L.K., A.W., I.R., J.H.)
| | | | - Keith Nockels
- Library and Learning Services, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom (K.N.)
| | - Wen Wang
- School of Business, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom (W.W.)
| | - Clare L Gillies
- Leicester Real World Evidence Unit, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom (C.L.G.)
| | - Jeremy Howick
- Stoneygate Centre for Empathic Healthcare, Leicester Medical School, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom (L.K., A.W., I.R., J.H.)
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