Authors
Mackenzie Gustafson
Published in
South Dakota medicine : the journal of the South Dakota State Medical Association. Volume 79. Issue suppl 5. Pages s31.
Abstract
The term sepsis is commonly used in surgical and critical care settings, yet its linguistic and emotional impact on patients' families is underexplored. Misinterpretation can influence perception, critical decision, and heighten fear. This work examines how the diagnosis of sepsis functions as both a physiologic and communicative event, and to propose the SEPSIS Dialogue; a novel, structured framework for family-centered communication in acute surgical care.
Narrative reflection and synthesis integrating surgical physiology, health literacy, and communication ethics. This framework was developed by mapping common communicative friction points in the ICU and perioperative setting against established principles of serious illness conversations.
Families frequently interpret sepsis as a fixed, catastrophic outcome, whereas clinicians view it as a dynamic spectrum. In surgical contexts, this "comprehension gap" is often widest at critical decision points, such as the need for re-operation. The SEPSIS Dialogue (State mechanism, Explain source, Present the spectrum, Speak to uncertainty, Invite questions, Support emotions, Demonstrate understanding) provides a structured pathway to bridge the gap in ways that respect comprehension, emotional experience, and clinical context.
Structured, plain-language communication can transform sepsis conversations from fear-driven moments into opportunities for partnership, clarity, and informed, values-based care.
PMID:
42525997
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 30 Jul 2026.
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