Using Applied Conversation Analysis in Patient Education

• Authors: Sean N Halpin, University of Georgia; Michael Konomos, Emory University; Kathryn Roulson, University of Georgia
• Journal Title: Global Qualitative Nursing Research
• Volume: Volume 8
• Publisher: SAGE Publications (UK and US) | 2021-05-28
• Type of Work: Article | Final Publisher PDF
• Publisher DOI: http://doi.org/10.1177/23333936211012990
• Subjects: Health Sciences, Medicine and Surgery
• Keywords: communication; patient-centered care; qualitative methods; Southeastern USA

Abstract

The conversation strategies patients and clinicians use are important in determining patient satisfaction and adherence, and health outcomes following patient education—yet most studies are rife with surveys and interviews which often fail to account for real-time interaction. Conversation analysis (CA) is a powerful but underused sociological and linguistic technique aimed at understanding how interaction is accomplished in real-time. In the current manuscript, we provide a primer to CA in an effort to make the technique accessible to patient education researchers including; The history of CA, identifying and collecting data, transcription conventions, data analysis, and presenting the findings. Ultimately, this article provides an easily digestible demonstration of this analytic technique.