Optimising communication to patients with venous thromboembolism: development of a provider toolkit

Effectively communicating a venous thromboembolism (VTE) diagnosis can be particularly difficult in fast-paced, high-stress acute care environments. These settings are often crowded and noisy, which can heighten patient anxiety and hinder shared decision-making. When communication is unclear or fragmented, patients may lose trust in their healthcare team and feel their care is inadequate.

Common barriers to effective communication include incomplete or conflicting information, information overload, and inconsistent messaging from multiple providers. Additional challenges arise from the use of medical jargon, alarmist or unclear metaphors, non-verbal cues that may signal distress, and language that does not align with a patient’s health literacy or cultural context.

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanhae/article/PIIS2352-3026(25)00136-X/abstract

This In Focus feature in Lancet Haematology highlights the creation of a global clinician toolkit designed to enhance clear, compassionate communication throughout the VTE diagnostic journey and beyond.