A Qualitative Inquiry into the Complex Features of Strained Interactions: Analysis and Implications for Health Care Personnel.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Communication skills are vital for successful relationships between patients and health care professionals. Failure to communicate may lead to a lack of understanding and may result in strained interactions. Our theoretical point of departure was to make use of chaos and complexity theories. OBJECTIVE: To examine the features of strained interactions and to discuss their relevance for health care settings. METHODS: A netnography study design was applied. Data were purposefully sampled, and video clips (122 minutes from 30 video clips) from public online venues were used. RESULTS: The results are presented in four categories 1) unpredictability, 2) sensitivity dependence, 3) resistibility, and 4) iteration. They are all features of strained interactions. CONCLUSION: Strained interactions are a complex phenomenon that exists in health care settings. The findings provide health care professionals guidance to understand the complexity and the features of strained interactions.