{"title":"The Human Face of Surgery: How Surgeon Attitude Shapes Patient Expectations and Recovery.","authors":"Ryan Guilbault, Areta Bojko","doi":"10.1177/23743735261458017","DOIUrl":"10.1177/23743735261458017","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Patient experience is shaped not only by the technical success of surgical care but also by the emotional and relational signals conveyed by the surgeon. Surgeon emotional signaling-defined as verbal, non-verbal, and cognitive expectation-setting behaviors-represents a modifiable clinical competency influencing the patient experience. Contemporary literature from surgical communication science, behavioral medicine, and clinician well-being research supports the integration of confidence-aligned communication into routine surgical practice. Using heuristic archetypes derived from clinical experience and supported by literature synthesis, this commentary illustrates how surgeon demeanor may influence psychological and behavioral recovery trajectories. Practical tools and system-level recommendations are provided to support implementation.</p>","PeriodicalId":45073,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Patient Experience","volume":"13 ","pages":"23743735261458017"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13223342/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148151540","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Amy Beumer, Martha Carlson, Abby L Arcuri, Julia Maues, Janice Cowden, Stephanie Walker, Kelly Shanahan, Jo Lynn Collins, A J Veach, Hope S Rugo, Mark E Burkard, Kevin M Kalinsky, Aditya Bardia, Maryam B Lustberg, Elizabeth Lerner Papautsky, Mya L Roberson
{"title":"A Patient-Led Survey of Antibody Drug Conjugate Usage and Dosing for People Living With Metastatic Breast Cancer.","authors":"Amy Beumer, Martha Carlson, Abby L Arcuri, Julia Maues, Janice Cowden, Stephanie Walker, Kelly Shanahan, Jo Lynn Collins, A J Veach, Hope S Rugo, Mark E Burkard, Kevin M Kalinsky, Aditya Bardia, Maryam B Lustberg, Elizabeth Lerner Papautsky, Mya L Roberson","doi":"10.1177/23743735261457837","DOIUrl":"10.1177/23743735261457837","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Scientific advancements have led to more people living longer with metastatic breast cancer (MBC). Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) offer a promising treatment option, but currently approved ADCs are associated with significant side effects that can impact quality of life. Dose reductions may help mitigate these effects, yet little is known about real-world, patient-reported experiences with ADC dosing. We surveyed 170 individuals with MBC who had received ADC treatment to assess initial dosing, dose modifications, and barriers to supportive care. Most respondents (94.1%) began treatment with the recommended dosing frequency and 82.9% with the recommended dose. However, 35.3% reported dose reductions, primarily due to experienced or anticipated side effects. Open-ended responses underscored the burden of side effects: \"If not for low dose, I don't think I could go on.\" Most participants (81.0%) reported oncologist-led efforts to manage side effects, and 73.0% used medications for symptom control. Financial barriers were common, with 43.5% reporting difficulty accessing supportive care. These findings highlight the need for patient-centered dosing strategies and improved access to supportive care.</p>","PeriodicalId":45073,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Patient Experience","volume":"13 ","pages":"23743735261457837"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13222401/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148145002","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pallavi V Menon, Antalique N Tran, Valerie L Thompson, Barry S Solomon, Paul O'Rourke
{"title":"Finding Your North Star: First Year Medical Students Reflect on Humanism and Purpose in Medicine.","authors":"Pallavi V Menon, Antalique N Tran, Valerie L Thompson, Barry S Solomon, Paul O'Rourke","doi":"10.1177/23743735261455461","DOIUrl":"10.1177/23743735261455461","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Medical education often prioritizes technical skills over personal reflection, a critical component of professional identity formation (PIF). We designed and implemented a 45-minute 'Finding Your North Star' session for 130 first-year medical students during orientation. Facilitated by senior students and deans, the session included small-group discussions, guided reflection, and the creation of personalized professional purpose statements, which were printed on cards featuring student artwork. Feedback from a post-session survey (n=101) demonstrated the session's meaningful impact with 85% of respondents reporting a deeper understanding of their purpose in medicine and over 90% finding it valuable to hear senior students' reflections and share personal values with their peers. Students recommended more time for group interactions and hearing from a wider range of speakers, such as alumni and physicians. Such initiatives may contribute to fostering professional identity and reducing burnout, important factors for health professional resilience, and improved patient care quality. This initiative highlights the need to invest in integrating humanistic reflective activities to prepare students for the multifaceted demands of a career in medicine.</p>","PeriodicalId":45073,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Patient Experience","volume":"13 ","pages":"23743735261455461"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13219867/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148139233","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The Lived Experience of Pediatric Pain Management: Insights From Families and Providers.","authors":"Samrithaa Balakrishnan, Annesha Dey, Aarti Bavare, Paul Checchia, Katherine Shwetz, Natasha Afonso","doi":"10.1177/23743735261455630","DOIUrl":"10.1177/23743735261455630","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Pain represents a subjective experience that manifests with emotional and physical discomfort. In pediatric care, pain management is especially complex due to communicative limitations, which creates a unique point of entry for parents to contribute to their child's treatment process. In this study, we explored whether families' perceptions of their child's pain and preferences for treatment were aligned with healthcare providers' pain management decisions. Using narrative-informed techniques in interviews with families and healthcare providers in pediatric care settings, we analyzed areas of concordance and discordance in pain assessment and treatment priorities. Our findings show that trust is built over time through (1) consistent communication and (2) individualized care for their child's unique needs. Contrastingly, when trust is broken, families experience added stress with care. Future research should prioritize developing tools and interventions that support this collaborative model. Ultimately, these efforts aim to equalize power dynamics in the family-provider relationship by emphasizing the value of both parental understanding and medical knowledge in pediatric pain management.</p>","PeriodicalId":45073,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Patient Experience","volume":"13 ","pages":"23743735261455630"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13219928/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148139267","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nathan Dawthorne, Adeen Ashton Fogle, Lianne Goldsmith, Yona Lunsky, Johanna Lake
{"title":"Coffee Chats: A Virtual Peer Support Model Developed by and for Caregivers Concerned About the Mental Health of Neurodivergent Adults.","authors":"Nathan Dawthorne, Adeen Ashton Fogle, Lianne Goldsmith, Yona Lunsky, Johanna Lake","doi":"10.1177/23743735261449930","DOIUrl":"10.1177/23743735261449930","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This patient perspectives manuscript presents caregiver reflections about a virtual peer support program conceptualized, designed, and facilitated by and for caregivers of neurodivergent adults with co-occurring mental health concerns. Grounded in lived experience, the model intentionally departs from solution-focused or prescriptive approaches, emphasizing <i>holding space</i> for emotions and realities that cannot necessarily be resolved. We describe how Coffee Chats emerged from caregivers' prior experiences with existing supports and outline the defining elements that distinguish this model from other contemporary caregiver peer support approaches. The Coffee Chats model highlights the value of caregiver-designed, flexible, and relational peer support grounded in authenticity, humility, and shared understanding.</p>","PeriodicalId":45073,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Patient Experience","volume":"13 ","pages":"23743735261449930"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13180205/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147975441","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Balint Groups as a Workforce and Patient Experience Strategy: Lessons From Implementation.","authors":"Midge Hobbs, Monica Arrigo, Emile R Mike Boutin","doi":"10.1177/23743735261449608","DOIUrl":"10.1177/23743735261449608","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Health professionals are experiencing increased stress, isolation, and burnout that directly affect the quality and safety of patient care. To address these issues, one graduate health professions institution implemented Balint groups-structured reflective sessions focused on perspective-taking and the humanistic aspects of care. This article examines how Balint groups can be integrated into health professions education and employee wellness programs, including challenges and sustainability strategies. Outcomes included increased empathy, improved communication, reduced feelings of isolation, and renewed motivation, which help build resilience. Groups highlighted the importance of community formed through shared vulnerability and reflection facilitated by Balint-experiences often missing in fast-paced academic and clinical environments. By linking the well-being of health professional students, clinicians, and educators to patient experience, Balint groups can serve as an impactful approach to fostering a culture of reflection, compassion, and resiliency in the health professions. Establishing this culture early in students' training creates a foundation for prioritizing the humanism of care alongside the technical skills needed for quality care delivery.</p>","PeriodicalId":45073,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Patient Experience","volume":"13 ","pages":"23743735261449608"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13176545/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147964947","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A Perspective on Observation as Intervention in Chronic Diagnostic Complexity.","authors":"Caroline N Niederman","doi":"10.1177/23743735261449971","DOIUrl":"10.1177/23743735261449971","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This patient perspective article advances observation as an intentional, rigorous form of clinical care rather than a passive absence of intervention. The recommendations arise from the lived experience of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS), informed by clinical training as a mobile equine veterinarian. Over a nine-year diagnostic course, early clinical curiosity gave way to prolonged skepticism in the context of normal examinations and laboratory findings, ultimately shifting responsibility for daily functioning and symptom interpretation onto the patient. Across repeated encounters, subtle but consistent indicators of impaired energy regulation and exertional intolerance were present yet remained clinically unintegrated. When viewed longitudinally, these findings revealed a coherent physiological pattern that was not apparent at any single time point. Modern medical training emphasizes action. However complex, relapsing, and poorly understood conditions often demand sustained clinical attention before diagnostic clarity emerges. In the absence of immediate abnormalities, discomfort with uncertainty may prompt premature intervention or disengagement, eroding trust and obscuring evolving signals. Structured observation offers an alternative. As a clinical strategy, it preserves diagnostic curiosity, strengthens the physician-patient relationship, and allows for the observation of physiology without confounding influences. Such observation can yield meaningful insight and guide precise, compassionate care.</p>","PeriodicalId":45073,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Patient Experience","volume":"13 ","pages":"23743735261449971"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13168711/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147943212","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Mekela Whyte-Nesfield, Jiaxiang Gai, Daniel Kaplan, Simon Li, Pamela S Hinds
{"title":"Pediatric Intensive Care-Associated Parental Traumatic Stressors by Parent Report: Beyond the First Year.","authors":"Mekela Whyte-Nesfield, Jiaxiang Gai, Daniel Kaplan, Simon Li, Pamela S Hinds","doi":"10.1177/23743735261449569","DOIUrl":"10.1177/23743735261449569","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Prospective longitudinal mixed methods cohort study of parents' recollection of stress-invoking events during their child's pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) admission. Respectively, 234, 190, and 71 parents of 188 children were assessed at PICU discharge, 3 to 9 months, and 18 to 30 months postdischarge, with substantial attrition observed at the final follow-up timepoint. Parental responses were analyzed using content analysis methodology and consensus coding. Scores of parental posttraumatic stress disorder/symptoms (PTSD/PTSS) and acute stress disorder measures were analyzed and compared to frequencies of each descriptive theme. Parents who responded within the theme \"<i>Sensing immediate need for additional care for my child\"</i> were more likely to meet criteria for PTSD qualification at 3 to 9 months (<i>P</i> = .02). At 3 to 9 months and 18 to 30 months, parents who reported no stressors related to the PICU stay were less likely to meet PTSS score qualification (<i>P</i> < .05). Parents experience significant stress during and following their child's PICU stay, with many stressors remaining consistent for up to 30 months; findings at T3 should be interpreted cautiously because of marked participant attrition.</p>","PeriodicalId":45073,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Patient Experience","volume":"13 ","pages":"23743735261449569"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13168717/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147943167","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Maci M Burgener, Mikaela J Kuenstler, Eric S Graham
{"title":"A Nurse's Perspective Shaped by Illness: What Becoming the Zebra Revealed.","authors":"Maci M Burgener, Mikaela J Kuenstler, Eric S Graham","doi":"10.1177/23743735261449612","DOIUrl":"10.1177/23743735261449612","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS) is a rare, multisystemic connective tissue disorder characterized by generalized joint hypermobility and pain with presence of other comorbidities affecting various organ systems. This hEDS patient perspective evaluates the growing disconnect between providers and patients in a rural setting. From working as a nurse at the bedside to now becoming the patient herself, M.K. illustrates how clinical assumptions, burnout, and limited understanding can lead to misdiagnosis and patient harm. This piece emphasizes the need for humility, empathy, and individualized, patient-centered care to be upheld in clinical practice. Recommendations are made for strengthening humanistic practice through intentional listening, self-reflection, and collaborative, patient-centered decision-making.</p>","PeriodicalId":45073,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Patient Experience","volume":"13 ","pages":"23743735261449612"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13167364/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147943229","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Venkadesan Rajendran, Susan Bursey, Chantal Liddard, Lisa Zeman, Ravinder-Jeet Singh
{"title":"Improving Patient Experience and Discharge Readiness in Acute Stroke Care Through a Patient-Oriented Discharge Summary: A Two-Cycle Quality Improvement Study.","authors":"Venkadesan Rajendran, Susan Bursey, Chantal Liddard, Lisa Zeman, Ravinder-Jeet Singh","doi":"10.1177/23743735261448450","DOIUrl":"10.1177/23743735261448450","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Patient-reported experience measures (PREM) capture critical aspects of stroke care quality that are not typically reflected in conventional clinical outcomes, particularly during care transition. This quality improvement initiative sought to incorporate PREM into standard acute stroke care and assess the impact of a Patient-Oriented Discharge Summary (PODS) on patient experience and discharge readiness. Employing a two-cycle Plan-Do-Study-Act methodology, a stroke-specific patient experience survey was developed and administered at discharge to patients admitted with stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) at Health Sciences North, Sudbury, Ontario. Baseline findings identified experience-related deficiencies despite high overall satisfaction, notably in discharge preparedness, shared decision-making, and information clarity. A PODS-based discharge intervention was implemented and evaluated using defect and top-box analyses. Post-implementation, overall defect rates significantly decreased, and top-box performance improved across all experience domains, most notably in the understanding of the condition and readiness for discharge. These findings indicate that systematic measurement of patient experience, coupled with structured discharge communication, can substantially enhance care transitions and bolster the quality and safety of acute stroke services.</p>","PeriodicalId":45073,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Patient Experience","volume":"13 ","pages":"23743735261448450"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13161633/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147934367","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}