Patients' perspectives of patient-clinician communication in peripheral arterial disease care: "I didn't feel like I was in tune with him".

Shared decision making is a cornerstone of person-centered care, yet its integration into the management of patients with lower extremity peripheral arterial disease (PAD) remains limited. Effective and responsive communication is critical for shared decision making. This study explored patients' experiences of patient-clinician communication in PAD care to identify barriers and opportunities for improvement through a secondary qualitative analysis of semi-structured interviews with 16 patients with PAD. The following 3 key themes were identified: (1) the challenge of being in tune, where patients emphasized the need to feel heard and acknowledged, with technical jargon and unempathetic interactions often causing disengagement; (2) sound and logic explanations, underscoring the importance of clear, relatable, and personalized communication to build trust; and (3) limited time and fragmented care, highlighting the negative impact of rushed consultations and fragmented care on communication and trust. Patients valued approachable clinicians; the use of visual aids; and consistent, meaningful interactions. These findings revealed significant barriers to effective communication at patient, clinician, and system levels, challenging shared decision making in PAD care.