Pasientkontakt

Pasientkontakt (Norwegian for patient contact) is the direct interaction between patients and healthcare professionals within the care process. It includes communication, physical examination and observation, information provision, decision-making support, and documentation, with the aim of diagnosing, planning and delivering treatment, ensuring safety, and fostering patient participation.

Scope and settings: Pasientkontakt occurs across settings such as hospitals, primary care clinics, long-term care facilities, and home-based care. It involves a range of professionals—physicians, nurses, therapists, social workers, and care aides—and can occur through in-person conversations, telephone contacts, and telemedicine.

Key elements: Effective pasientkontakt is characterized by respect, empathy, active listening, clear and truthful information, confidentiality, professional boundaries, and cultural sensitivity. It also requires attention to health literacy and patient autonomy, including honoring preferences and informed consent.

Functions: It supports assessment and diagnosis, informed consent, education about conditions and treatments, goal setting with the patient, monitoring progress, coordinating services, and planning discharge or transfer of care.

Impact and challenges: High-quality pasientkontakt is associated with improved patient satisfaction, better adherence to treatment, and safer, more effective care. Barriers include time pressure, language and literacy differences, cognitive limitations, and burnout. Solutions emphasize structured communication, patient-centered care, teach-back techniques, availability of interpreters, and ongoing training.