Communicative and pedagogical strategies in nurses' and surgeons' discharge consultations with patients undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer.

AIM: To describe the structure, content, and the communicative and pedagogic strategies in discharge consultations between patients and professionals after colorectal cancer surgery.

BACKGROUND: Both nurses and surgeons play an important role in preparing patients for discharge from hospital following surgery for colorectal cancer (CRC).

DESIGN: An explorative quantitative and qualitative research based on analysis of transcriptions of 13 audio-taped discharge consultations between patients and nurses and patients and surgeons conducted between January - March 2012.

METHODS: In the quantitative analysis, the structure of each consultation was described in phases, subtopics, and main topics. The proportion of the main topics in relation to the whole conversation was counted in percentages. The text from the consultations was then analysed qualitatively with the support from Ricoeur's theory of interpretation.

RESULTS: The language constituted the essence in the consultations regardless of other communicative and pedagogical strategies. The pedagogic strategies used were explanation model, information transfer, task orientation, and dialogue. Topics occurring in the consultations were Operation, Symptoms, Medication, Thromboprophylaxis, Recovery after surgery, Bowel function, Spreading, and Follow-up. The surgeons and nurses used similar topics, but the surgeons used more communicative and pedagogic strategies.

CONCLUSION: Language was fundamental for communication and independent of the communicative and pedagogical strategies. Using preparedness communication more consistent in discharge consultation can help patients to better understand the recovery process after CRC surgery and regain control over their life. It is important that the consultations build on the patient as an active and learning person.