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AI Summary of Peer-Reviewed Research

This page presents an AI-generated summary of a published research paper. The original authors did not write or review this article. [See full disclosure ↓]

Publishing process signals: MODERATE — reflects the venue and review process. — venue and review process.

Diagnostic disclosure in acute care is not clearly defined

A male patient wearing glasses sits on a gray couch across from a female healthcare provider in a white coat with a stethoscope, engaged in face-to-face conversation in a modern, colorful consultation room with yellow, teal, and coral walls, shelving, and decorative cushions.
Research area:NursingFormal concept analysisPatient care

What the study found

Diagnostic disclosure in acute care was defined as the process through which a clinician names and explains a patient's diagnosis. The authors also identified two defining attributes: the disclosure process and diagnostic content, and noted that disclosure can be measured by how full the diagnostic content is.

What the authors say this matters
The authors conclude that a clearly defined concept of diagnostic disclosure provides a foundation to measure, predict, and investigate it further. They say it is critical to patient-centered care and has potential implications for communication, self-care, and rehospitalization.

What the researchers tested

The researchers used the Walker and Avant eight-step concept analysis approach. They searched PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, and EMBASE for studies on diagnostic disclosure in adult acute care, and 37 articles published between 1994 and 2025 met inclusion criteria.

What worked and what didn't

No included article that used the term "diagnostic disclosure" provided a definition. Using the literature, the authors developed conceptual and operational definitions and described full and partial disclosure, along with model, borderline, related, and contrary cases. They also identified antecedents and consequences of diagnostic disclosure.

What to keep in mind

The abstract does not report a direct patient outcome test of the definition. It also does not describe limitations beyond noting that the literature lacked an existing definition in the acute care setting.

Key points

  • The study defines diagnostic disclosure in acute care as a clinician naming and explaining a patient's diagnosis.
  • The authors identified two defining attributes: the disclosure process and diagnostic content.
  • No included article using the term "diagnostic disclosure" provided a definition.
  • The literature was used to develop conceptual and operational definitions, plus examples of full and partial disclosure.
  • The authors conclude that the definition may help measure, predict, and investigate diagnostic disclosure further.

Disclosure

Research title:
Diagnostic disclosure in acute care is not clearly defined
Authors:
Katherine S. Pitcher, Lauren Massimo, Michael A. Stawnychy, Kathryn H. Bowles
Institutions:
University of Pennsylvania, Institute for Family Health
Publication date:
2026-04-01
DOI:
10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2026.105522
OpenAlex record:
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AI provenance: This post was generated by OpenAI. The original authors did not write or review this post.

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