Communication between physicians, patients, their companions and other healthcare professionals in home medical care in Japan

Objective To examine communication in home medical care. Methods Conversations that happened during home medical care involving physicians at nine clinics were recorded and analyzed using the Roter Interaction Analysis System (RIAS). Additional categories were developed to code aspects of home medical care. Results Overall, 55 conversations were analyzed. The mean age of the patients was 82.9 ± 10.1 years old. The most common triad was physician, patient, and patient’s companion. Information about home medical care professionals who were not present during the conversation was provided by the physician in 21 cases (38.2%), the patient in nine cases (16.4%), and companions in 21 (39.6%) cases. Conclusion In home medical care, the participants mentioned home medical care professions who were not present at the time, suggesting that these conversations may have facilitated interprofessional collaboration. Practice implications Physicians should be aware that during home medical care, the presence of multiple attendants and other medical professionals contributing to communicate with the patient.