One way to meet these challenges is to acknowledge that patients do not always hear the messages and information delivered by clinicians as intended.įor example, the clinician may tell a patient with NSST-T wave changes, “While your ECG was abnormal, there were no signs of acute MI.” The patient may interpret this message as, “I did not have a heart attack! Thank goodness I’m okay.” Better and more accurate communication is critical in this situation and can be provided by avoiding complicated or confusing medical jargon. Unfortunately, such diagnostic clarity and reassurance may prove more elusive in other patients whose ECG may be abnormal (i.e., NSST-T wave changes) but not classic or specific for such conditions as ischemia, infarction, or pericarditis.The challenge in such cases is twofold: (1) to determine the actual significance of the NSST-T wave changes in symptomatic patients and (2) to convey these concerns clearly and understandably to patients who might be from culturally and educationally diverse backgrounds. Although obviously concerning, these positive ECG findings can be reassuring regarding clarity of diagnosis, necessary interventions, or the need for specialty consultations. For some patients, specific ECG abnormalities are present that indicate or strongly suggest ischemic heart disease or acute MI.
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