A Prospective Video-Reflexive Ethnographic Study of Direct Patient-Pathologist Interactions With Heart and Lung Allograft Recipients
Context.—
A clinic was created for patients to review their explanted organs with a pathologist.
Objective.—
To prospectively investigate the benefits of this type of clinic as perceived by both transplant patients and their pathologists.
Design.—
In this prospective study, patients participated in a videotaped viewing of heart and/or lung explants by the patient and their guest(s) and pathologist (December 2017–August 2022). Patients received a 3D-printed replica of their explant. After viewing the explanted organ, patients and their guests participated in an interview to assess their experiences. Video-reflexive ethnography was used by pathologists for data collection and practice improvement.
Results.—
Of 143 patients who viewed their explanted organ, 21 patients consented to having the organ-viewing session taped and to participate in a postviewing interview. The study group was comprised of 12 men; the median age was 57.5 years (range, 29–67 years). Five pathologists took part in reflexive sessions. The clinics were viewed positively by patients, providing an opportunity to better understand their disease. Pathologists had a similarly positive experience and gained important insights to patient journeys. Proposals for improvement were brought forward from both patients and pathologists.
Conclusions.—
Video-reflexive ethnography provided the opportunity for patients and pathologists to reflect on patient-pathology clinic appointments. This work serves as a template to build out pathology-based clinics.
Contributor Notes
The authors have no relevant financial interest in the products or companies described in this article.
Presented in part as an abstract at the 2024 Annual Meeting of the International Society of Heart and Lung Transplantation; April 11, 2024; Prague, Czech Republic.