Cultura

Evaluating the Effectiveness of Health Assistants in Facilitating Communication Between Patients and Healthcare Providers: A Systematic Review

VOLUME 21, 2024

The Role of Targeted Infra-popliteal Endovascular Angioplasty to Treat Diabetic Foot Ulcers Using the Angiosome Model: A Systematic Review

VOLUME 6, 2023

Mashari Abdullah A. Alshammari, Fuhaid Ytaiym R. Aldhafeeri, Abdulaziz Abdullah A. Alshammari, Fahhad Yataim R. Aldhafeeri, Ghanem Silfiq Duhaysan Aldhafeeri, Abdullah Shelaitan M. Aldhafeeri

Abstract

Effective communication between patients and healthcare providers is a foundational determinant of care quality, patient satisfaction, treatment adherence, and safety outcomes. Health assistants, including nursing assistants and allied support personnel, often function as frontline communicators and intermediaries within clinical environments. Despite their expanding roles in healthcare systems, limited synthesis exists regarding their measurable effectiveness in facilitating communication processes. This systematic review evaluates the evidence examining the impact of health assistants on communication quality, patient understanding, care coordination, and patient safety outcomes. Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, searches were conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. Studies assessing communication facilitation roles of health assistants, patient navigators, or support personnel were included. Evidence suggests that health assistants enhance communication clarity, improve patient comprehension, support shared decision-making, and reduce miscommunication-related adverse events. Their presence is associated with improved patient satisfaction scores, better chronic disease management adherence, and enhanced coordination in multidisciplinary teams. Effectiveness is influenced by training, defined role boundaries, cultural competence, and institutional support. Although direct Saudi-based evidence remains limited, international data indicate significant potential benefits within structured healthcare systems. Strengthening competency frameworks and integrating communication training into assistant roles may optimize patient-centered care outcomes in Saudi healthcare settings.

Keywords : health assistants, patient communication, healthcare communication, patient safety, systematic review.
Erin Saricilar
Lecture in accounting. University of Basrah, College of Administration and Economics, Department of Accounting.

Abstract

Atherosclerotic disease significantly impacts patients with type 2 diabetes, who often present with recalcitrant peripheral ulcers. The angiosome model of the foot presents an opportunity to perform direct angiosome-targeted endovascular interventions to maximise both wound healing and limb salvage. A systematic review was performed, with 17 studies included in the final review. Below-the-knee endovascular interventions present significant technical challenges, with technical success depending on the length of lesion being treated and the number of angiosomes that require treatment. Wound healing was significantly improved with direct angiosome-targeted angioplasty, as was limb salvage, with a significant increase in survival without major amputation. Indirect angioplasty, where the intervention is applied to collateral vessels to the angiosomes, yielded similar results to direct angiosome-targeted angioplasty. Applying the angiosome model of the foot in direct angiosome-targeted angioplasty improves outcomes for patients with recalcitrant diabetic foot ulcers in terms of primary wound healing, mean time for complete wound healing and major amputation-free survival.
Keywords : Diabetic foot ulcer, angiosome, angioplasty