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Effective communication in healthcare settings is vital to ensure accurate and effective care is given to patients. Yet, too often, crucial information gets lost in translation between providers and patients. How can we ensure that every interaction in a clinical setting leads to better outcomes?

The stage of the CA&CE 2024 event, with a presenter talking in front of a presentation.

This was the foundation of discussions at the eighth International Meeting on Conversation Analysis and Clinical Encounters (CA&CE 2024), hosted by Dr Rebecca Barnes from NDPCHS. The event brought together 96 international delegates from 20 countries and 54 universities to tackle the most pressing challenges in healthcare communication. 

Over three intensive days at Wolfson College, we enjoyed intellectual discourse and practical insights, featuring plenary talks from invited speakers, oral presentations and group data sessions. Following a warm welcome from Professor Catherine Pope, our keynote speakers - Professor Rose McCabe, Professor Johanna Ruusuvuori, Professor Alison Pilnick and Professor Steven Bloch - delivered inspiring talks on emergency mental health assessments, the role of touch and affect in health care across different primary care settings, understanding the ‘failures’ in policy-driven patient-centred care, and the role of national helplines in supporting people with chronic illness. 

We also enjoyed 60 oral presentations addressing health communication challenges in almost all continents of the world. The diversity of topics covered was staggering. From professional problems such as assessing and managing patient risk and addressing vaccine hesitancy, to practical problems such as how to communicate with minimally conscious patients, broaching talk about violence, and the design of conversation AI technologies. Research spanned a wide range of health care settings including primary care, dentistry, emergency care, intensive care and end-of-life care. 

Uniquely, our meetings always include opportunities for delegates to discuss their data in person during small group data sessions. I had the great pleasure of leading one of these sessions, sharing data highlighting the role of patient companions in medical consultations in China which was collected for a pilot study. I received valuable input and insightful feedback on both the recordings and transcriptions during our lively discussion.   

The CA&CE Meetings were co-founded by Dr Rebecca Barnes and Professor Nicky Britten with the first meeting held at the University of Exeter in 2007. The aim of the meetings is to promote methodological excellence and innovation in the application of conversation analytic (CA) methods to research on communication in health care. Over the last 17 years the meetings have brought an ever-growing international community together to network and share their research findings. Besides CA scholars and postgraduate students, we also welcome clinicians interested in our findings or in applying CA methods in their own research. 

This year our meeting also included a memorial session for Professor Emanual Schegloff (1937 – 2024), one of three scholars instrumental in founding CA, including heartfelt contributions from Professor John Heritage and Chair of the International Society for Conversation Analysis, Professor Galina Bolden. 

Opportunistic conversations on papers, keynote talks, potential collaborations and how we can best ensure that our research is meaningful to patients and their family members, health care professionals, clinical educators, and policy makers continued from the meeting rooms to the dining hall during coffee breaks and lunch. Attendees’ enthusiasm and passion also extended from Wolfson College to the historic dining hall at Green Templeton College during our wonderful celebratory meeting dinner. 

While the numbers may seem daunting - 60 oral presentations, 20 countries represented - the impact of CA&CE 2024 is anything but scary. By bringing together diverse perspectives and fostering collaboration, we're paving the way for more effective, empathetic, and efficient healthcare communication. 

Are you passionate about improving healthcare outcomes through better communication? The CA community welcomes clinicians, researchers, and students alike. Contact rebecca.barnes@phc.ox.ac.uk to learn how you can get involved in this growing field and attend future meetings. 

 ______________________________________________

Yicen Guo (DPhil Student) on behalf of the CA&CE 2024 Organising Committee 

CA&CE 2024 Organising Committee: Dr Rebecca Barnes (Meeting Chair), Dr Liliia Bespala, Dr Virginia Calabria, Dr Rachael Drewery, Dr Jack Joyce, Yicen Guo, Chloe Phillips and Dr Catherine Woods. 

CA&CE 2024 was supported by the Foundation for the Sociology of Health & Illness 

 

Opinions expressed are those of the author/s and not of the University of Oxford. Readers' comments will be moderated - see our guidelines for further information.

 

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