Patient-centered communication and prognosis discussions with cancer patients

ObjectiveTo examine physician communication associated with prognosis discussion with cancer patients.MethodsWe conducted a study of physician–patient communication using trained actors. Thirty-nine physicians, including 19 oncologists and 20 family physicians participated in the study. Actors carried two hidden digital recorders to unannounced visits. We coded recordings for eliciting and validating patient concerns, attentive voice tone, and prognosis talk.ResultsActor adherence to role averaged 92% and the suspected detection rate was 14%. In a multiple regression, eliciting and validating patient concerns (β = .40, C.I. = 0.11–0.68) attentiveness (β = .32, C.I. = 0.06–0.58) and being an oncologist vs. a family physician (β = .33, C.I. = 0.33–1.36) accounted for 46% of the variance in prognosis communication.ConclusionEliciting and validating patient concerns and attentiveness voice tone is associated with increased discussion of cancer patient prognosis as is physician specialty.Practice implicationsEliciting and validating patient concerns and attentive voice tone may be markers of physician willingness to discuss emotionally difficult topics. Educating physicians about mindful practice may increase their ability to collect important information and to attend to patient concerns.     

Modifiable risk factors for adherence to adjuvant endocrine therapy among breast cancer patients

Objective

Breast cancer incidence and mortality are declining due to improvements in early detection and treatment. One advance in treatment is the development of adjuvant endocrine therapy (AET) for women with hormone receptor positive breast cancer. Despite strong evidence linking AET to better health outcomes, AET adherence continues to be suboptimal. This study tests the hypothesis that patient beliefs about medication mediate the relationship between frequency of physician communication and AET adherence.

Methods

This cross-sectional study utilizes data from patient self-report and medical chart abstraction (N = 200). Survey measures included frequency of physician communication, patient beliefs about medicine, AET adherence, and demographic characteristics.

Results

Necessity beliefs mediated the relationship between frequency of physician communication and medication adherence (necessity beliefs β = .18, p < .05; physician communication β = .13, p > .05). There was no evidence of medication concerns mediating the relationship between frequency of physician communication and medication adherence.

Conclusion

More frequent physician communication that shapes what patients believe about AET importance may be associated with greater AET adherence; however, frequent physician communication that shapes patient concerns about side effects may not be associated with greater AET adherence.

Practice implications

Research is needed to enhance understanding of the type of physician communication that is most consistently associated with patient beliefs about medication and AET adherence.     

Evidence-based care for breast cancer survivors: Communicating the Institute of Medicine Guidelines in medical practice

Objective

To investigate patient reports of physician communication about the 2006 Institute of Medicine (IOM) Guidelines for Survivorship Care, and patient follow-up care behaviors in a sample of African American and Caucasian breast cancer survivors.

Methods

Fifteen-minute telephone interviews were conducted in a cross-sectional study with a sample of African American (n = 30) and Caucasian (n = 69) breast cancer patients, who were within 5 years of their diagnosis and primary treatment for breast cancer at two Baltimore, Maryland medical centers, during the summer of 2006. Multiple items assessed patient reports of physician discussions about IOM Guidelines, their recurrence concerns, and their follow-up treatment, screening, diet and exercise practices.

Results

Patients with higher incomes, more education, female physicians, and of younger ages reported more complete physician discussions of the IOM Guidelines. No significant differences were noted between African American and Caucasian patients.

Conclusion

Patients at greatest risk for breast cancer recurrence – those with less education, income, and resources – report limited guidance from their physicians about evidence-based, follow-up care guidelines, designed to minimize their risk.

Practice implications

Physicians need strategies for effectively delivering the IOM Guidelines for Survivorship Care to disadvantaged breast cancer patients, to promote enhanced quality of life and reduced risk of recurrence.     

Patients’ trust in their physician—Psychometric properties of the Dutch version of the “Wake Forest Physician Trust Scale”

Objective

Aim was to investigate the psychometric properties of a Dutch version of the “Wake Forest Physician Trust Scale”, which intends to measure patients’ trust in their physician.

Methods

A random sample of internal medicine patients visiting the outpatient clinic completed the questionnaire (N = 201). Dimensionality, reliability and validity of the instrument were examined.

Results

The structure of the questionnaire was best explained by a unidimensional construct. Reliability was confirmed: internal consistency was high (α = .88), and mean item-total correlations were all above .40. Construct validity was indicated by patients’ trust in their physician correlating significantly and as hypothesized with (1) satisfaction with their physician (r = .64), (2) with the length of the patient–physician relationship (r = .28), (3) with their willingness to recommend their physician (r = .71) and (4) their unwillingness to switch their physician (r = .61).

Conclusion

The results suggest the Dutch version of the Wake Forest Physician Trust Scale to be a psychometrically sound instrument to assess patients’ interpersonal trust.

Practice implications

Trust is a key feature of the patient–physician relationship, yet has been scarcely researched in other than Anglophone cultures. An adequate Dutch trust questionnaire forms the first step to gaining more knowledge about patient–physician trust in another culture and health care setting.     

Physician eye contact and elder patient perceptions of understanding and adherence

Objective

To Examine physician eye contact (EC), patient understanding and adherence.

Methods

Secondary analysis of National Institute of Aging videotapes (N = 52) of physician–elder patients in two visit types: (1) routine (n = 20); (2) anxiety-provoking (n = 32) was conducted. Self-reports of understanding and adherence were used. History-taking segments were qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed for relationships between EC, understanding and adherence.

Results

Qualitative analysis showed: (1) two salient EC elements – frequency, type (brief or sustained) – and verbal synchronicity were commonly invoked; (2) conjoint unfolding of three communication elements – “looking, listening and talking” – may be salient for patient outcomes; (3) despite differing EC patterns in routine and anxiety provoking visits, statistical analyses showed patient understanding and adherence ratings were similar in the sample population comprising two visit types; no significant correlations between EC elements and understanding and adherence were found.

Conclusions

Salience of EC for patient-centered communication is shown in prior research. Present findings broaden the significance of EC by including verbal synchronicity. Methodological limitations may account for no significant correlations between EC and patient outcomes.

Practice implications

Using suggested framework for operationalizing EC elements, including verbally synchronous communication, may facilitate patient-centeredness and have positive implications for patient understanding and adherence.     

Working alliance in communication skills training for oncology clinicians: A controlled trial

Objective

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of communication skills training (CST) on working alliance and to identify specific communicational elements related to working alliance.

Methods

Pre- and post-training simulated patient interviews (6-month interval) of oncology physicians and nurses (N = 56) who benefited from CST were compared to two simulated patient interviews with a 6-month interval of oncology physicians and nurses (N = 57) who did not benefit from CST. The patient–clinician interaction was analyzed by means of the Roter Interaction Analysis System (RIAS). Alliance was measured by the Working Alliance Inventory – Short Revised Form.

Results

While working alliance did not improve with CST, generalized linear mixed effect models demonstrated that the quality of verbal communication was related to alliance. Positive talk and psychosocial counseling fostered alliance whereas negative talk, biomedical information and patient's questions diminished alliance.

Conclusion

Patient–clinician alliance is related to specific verbal communication behaviors.

Practice implications

Working alliance is a key element of patient–physician communication which deserves further investigation as a new marker and efficacy criterion of CST outcome.     

Predictors and moderators of outcome in different brief interventions for smoking cessation in general medical practice

Objective

To explore demographic-, health-, and smoking-related predictors and moderators of outcome in smokers who participated in two different brief smoking cessation interventions.

Methods

Data were acquired using a quasi-randomized controlled trial that tested the efficacy of computer-generated tailored letters and physician-delivered brief advice against assessment only. Daily smokers (n = 1499) were recruited from 34 general medical practices. We used Generalized Estimating Equation analyses to investigate the relationship between 6-month prolonged smoking abstinence assessed at 12-, 18-, and 24-month follow-ups and potential predictors and moderators.

Results

Female gender (OR = 1.49, 95% CI = 1.01–2.19), higher level of education (OR = 1.82, 95% CI = 1.18–2.82), intention to quit smoking (OR = 1.66, 95% CI = 1.16–2.38), and smoking cessation self-efficacy (OR = 1.30, 95% CI = 1.03–1.64) were positively, nicotine dependence (OR = 0.84, 95% CI = 0.76–0.94) and the presence of a smoking partner (OR = 0.60, 95% CI = 0.42–0.85) were negatively associated with smoking abstinence. Compared to assessment only, physician advice was less effective for people without an intention to quit smoking and for unemployed.

Conclusion

Smoking cessation interventions might be improved by tailoring them to demographic- and smoking-related variables which were identified as predictors in this study.

Practice implications

The results suggest that tailored letters are a more universally applicable brief intervention in general medical practice than physician advice.     

Patient-reported use of collaborative goal setting and glycemic control among patients with diabetes

Objective

Little is known about how patient–clinician communication leads to better outcomes. Among patients with diabetes, we describe patient-reported use of collaborative goal setting and evaluate whether perceived competency and physician trust mediate the association between collaborative goal setting and glycemic control.

Methods

Data from a patient survey administered in 2008 to a cohort of insured patients aged 18+ years with diabetes who initiated oral mono-therapy between 2000 and 2005 were joined with pharmaceutical claims data for the prior 12 months and laboratory data for the prior and subsequent 12 months (N = 1065). A structural equation model (SEM) was used to test mediation models controlling for baseline HbA1c.

Results

The hypothesized mediation model was supported. Patient-reported use of more collaborative goal setting was associated with greater perceived self-management competency and increased level of trust in the physician (p < 0.05). In turn, both greater perceived competence and increased trust were associated with increased control (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Findings indicate that engaging patients in collaborative goal setting during clinical encounters has potential to foster a trusting patient–clinician relationship as well as enhance patient perceived competence, thereby improving clinical control.

Practice implications

Fostering collaborative goal setting may yield payoffs in improved clinical outcomes among patients with diabetes.     

Patient use of weight-management activities: A comparison of patient and physician assessments

Objective

Examine concordance between patient and physician assessments of patient self-reported use of weight-management activities.

Methods

Analysis of baseline data from a randomized controlled trial of patient and physician interventions to improve patient–physician communication (41 physicians and 274 of their patients).

Results

A majority of patients reported regular exercise (55.6%) and efforts to lose weight, such as eating less (63.1%) while physicians only perceived one-third of patients as engaging in those activities (exercise, 36.6%; weight loss, 33.3%). Kappa scores indicated small agreement between patient and physician assessments of patient self-reported use of exercise, mean kappa 0.28 (range 0.15 to 0.40) and no agreement between patient and physician assessments of patient self-reported efforts to lose weight, mean kappa −0.14 (range −0.26 to −0.01). Obese patients were more likely than non-obese patients to report trying to lose weight or exercising regularly (p < 0.05), but physicians were less likely to perceive obese patients as engaging in those activities (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Primary care physicians differed considerably from their patients, especially obese patients, in their assessments of patient use of weight-management activities.

Practice implications

These results highlight the importance of improving patient–provider communication about weight-management activities, particularly among obese patients.     

A comparison of GP,pharmacist and nurse prescriber responses to patients’ emotional cues and concerns in primary care consultations

Objective

Recognising patients’ cues and concerns is an important part of patient centred care. With nurses and pharmacists now able to prescribe in the UK, this study compared the frequency, nature, and professionals’ responses to patient cues and concerns in consultations with GPs, nurse prescribers and pharmacist prescribers.

Methods

Audio-recording and analysis of primary care consultations in England between patients and nurse prescribers, pharmacist prescribers and GPs. Recordings were coded for the number of cues and concerns raised, cue or concern type and whether responded to positively or missed.

Results

A total of 528 consultations were audio-recorded with 51 professionals: 20 GPs, 19 nurse prescribers and 12 pharmacist prescribers. Overall there were 3.5 cues or concerns per consultation, with no difference between prescriber groups. Pharmacist prescribers responded positively to 81% of patient's cues and concerns with nurse prescribers responding positively to 72% and GPs 53% (PhP v NP: U = 7453, z = −2.1, p = 0.04; PhP v GP: U = 5463, z = −5.9, p < 0.0001; NP v GP: U = 12,070, z = −4.9, p < 0.0001).

Conclusion

This evidence suggests that pharmacists and nurses are responding supportively to patients’ cues and concerns.

Practice implications

The findings support the importance of patient-centredness in training new prescribers and their potential in providing public health roles.     

Associations between patient–provider communication and socio-cultural factors in prostate cancer patients: A cross-sectional evaluation of racial differences

Objective

To examine the association between socio-cultural factors and patient–provider communication and related racial differences.

Methods

Data analysis included 1854 men with prostate cancer from a population-based study. Participants completed an assessment of communication variables, physician trust, perceived racism, religious beliefs, traditional health beliefs, and health literacy. A multi-group structural equation modeling approach was used to address the research aims.

Results

Compared with African Americans, Caucasian Americans had significantly greater mean scores of interpersonal treatment (p < 0.01), prostate cancer communication (p < 0.001), and physician trust (p < 0.001), but lower mean scores of religious beliefs, traditional health beliefs, and perceived racism (all p values <0.001). For both African and Caucasian Americans, better patient–provider communication was associated with more physician trust, less perceived racism, greater religious beliefs (all p-values <0.01), and at least high school education (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Socio-cultural factors are associated with patient–provider communication among men with cancer. No evidence supported associations differed by race.

Practice implication

To facilitate patient–provider communication during prostate cancer care, providers need to be aware of patient education levels, engage in behaviors that enhance trust, treat patients equally, respect religious beliefs, and reduce the difficulty level of the information.     

Weight's up? Predictors of weight-related communication during primary care visits with overweight adolescents

Objective

Physicians’ use of Motivational Interviewing (MI) techniques when discussing weight with adolescent patients is unknown.

Methods

We coded audio-recorded encounters between 49 primary care physicians and 180 overweight adolescent patients. During weight discussions, we used the MITI 3.0 to assess: Empathy, MI Spirit, open-ended questions, reflections, MI consistent behaviors (e.g., praising) and MI inconsistent behaviors (e.g., confronting). We examined associations of patient and physician characteristics with (1) MI techniques, (2) time discussing weight, and (3) encounter time.

Results

Physicians used more MI consistent techniques with female patients (p = 0.06) and with heavier patients (p = 0.02). Physicians with prior MI training also used more MI consistent techniques (p = 0.04) and asked more open-ended questions (p = 0.05). Pediatricians had a higher MI Spirit score than family physicians (p = 0.03). Older patient age was associated with physicians spending less time discussing weight-related topics (p = 0.04) and higher BMI percentile was associated with physicians spending more time discussing weight-related topics (p = 0.01). Increased use of MI inconsistent techniques was associated with longer encounters (p = 0.02).

Conclusion

Physicians’ weight discussions vary based on adolescent and physician characteristics. Importantly, not using MI lengthened encounter time.

Practice implications

Physicians might consider using MI techniques more and attempt to use these equally with all adolescents.     

Communication matters: The impact of communication and participation in decision making on breast cancer patients’ depression and quality of life

Objective

This study explored the impact of breast cancer patients’ experiences of physician–patient communication and participation in decision making on patient depression and quality of life three and six months after primary treatment.

Methods

Participants were 135 German breast cancer patients, recruited within a week after the beginning of treatment. Women were asked to complete a self-administered questionnaire at baseline and three and six months later.

Results

Patients who rated their level of information at baseline as high were less depressed after three (p = .010) and six months (p < .001) and experienced higher quality of life after three (p < .001) and six months (p = .049). Patients who participated as much as they had wanted were more satisfied with the decision making process (p < .001) and had lower depression scores three months later (p = .005). The level of participation itself (passive, collaborative, active) and the treatment type had no impact.

Conclusion

The findings reveal the significance of physician–patient communication and stress the meaning of baseline depression for later adjustment.

Practice implications

A high level of information and tailoring the involvement in decision making to patients’ desired level can help patients to better cope with their illness. Physicians should assess and treat depression early in cancer treatment.     

Supportive care needs in patients with cardiovascular disorders

Objectives

Unmet medical needs are a focus in cardiovascular disorder (CVD) research. However, few studies have investigated patients’ perceived needs. The present study examined supportive care needs in patients with CVD and their relation to health characteristics.

Methods

In total 260 in-patients with CVD were consecutively assessed with the supportive care needs survey. Primarily, frequency and content of unmet needs were examined. Secondarily, CVD-diagnoses were compared and correlations with risk factors, treatment characteristics, mood-state and quality of life were analyzed.

Results

Supportive care needs were indicated by 21% of all patients: unmet health information (37%) and psychological (23%) needs were most frequent. The number of unmet needs did not differ between most CVD-diagnoses. Unmet needs were not related to cardiac risk factors. However, treatment characteristics (r = .17–.23, p < .01), anxiety (r = .44–.71, p < .01), depression (r = .38–.63, p < .01), physical (r = .21–.47, p < .01) and mental (r = .29–.65, p < .01) quality of life were associated with unmet needs.

Conclusions

Supportive care needs are common in patients with CVD. They are based on patients’ treatment characteristics, emotions and subjective well-being rather than on cardiac factors.

Practice implications

Needs assessments in patients with CVD could detect unmet needs, enhance patient education and communication and, therefore, effectively target patients’ perceived needs and medical needs.     

Physician–patient communication about dietary supplements

Objective

Describe the content and frequency of provider–patient dietary supplement discussions during primary care office visits.

Methods

Inductive content analysis of 1477 transcribed audio-recorded office visits to 102 primary care providers was combined with patient and provider surveys. Encounters were collected in Los Angeles, CA (2009–2010), geographically diverse practice settings across the United States (2004–2005), and Sacramento, CA (1998–1999).

Results

Providers discussed 738 dietary supplements during encounters with 357 patients (24.2% of all encounters in the data). They mentioned: (1) reason for taking the supplement for 46.5% of dietary supplements; (2) how to take the supplement for 28.2%; (3) potential risks for 17.3%; (4) supplement effectiveness for 16.7%; and (5) supplement cost or affordability for 4.2%. Of these five topics, a mean of 1.13 (SD = 1.2) topics were discussed for each supplement. More topics were reviewed for non-vitamin non-mineral supplements (mean 1.47 (SD = 1.2)) than for vitamin/mineral supplements (mean 0.99 (SD = 1.1); p < 0.001).

Conclusion

While discussions about supplements are occurring, it is clear that more discussion might be needed to inform patient decisions about supplement use.

Practice implications

Physicians could more frequently address topics that may influence patient dietary supplement use, such as the risks, effectiveness, and costs of supplements.     

Impact of two types of Internet-based information on medical students’ performance in an Objective Structured Clinical Exam (OSCE)

Objectives

Internet-based information has potential to impact physician–patient relationships. This study examined medical students’ interpretation and response to such information presented during an objective clinical examination.

Method

Ninety-three medical students who had received training for a patient centered response to inquiries about alternative treatments completed a comprehensive examination in their third year. In 1 of 12 objective structured clinical exams, a SP presented Internet-based information on l-theanine – an amino acid available as a supplement. In Condition A, materials were from commercial websites; in Condition B, materials were from the PubMed website.

Results

Analyses revealed no significant differences between Conditions in student performance or patient (SP) satisfaction. Students in Condition A rated the information less compelling than students in Condition B (z = −1.78, p = .037), and attributed less of the treatment's action to real vs. placebo effects (z = −1.61, p = .053).

Conclusions

Students trained in a patient centered response to inquiries about alternative treatment perceived the credibility of the two types of Internet-based information differently but were able to respond to the patient without jeopardizing patient satisfaction. Approach to information was superficial. Training in information evaluation may be warranted.     

Addressing health literacy through clear health communication: A training program for internal medicine residents

Objective

To develop, pilot, and test the effectiveness of a clear health communication curriculum to improve resident knowledge, attitudes, and skills regarding health literacy.

Methods

Thirty-one internal medicine residents participated in a small group curriculum that included didactic teaching, practice with a standardized patient, and individualized feedback on videotaped encounters with real patients. Outcomes were assessed using a pre-post survey and a communication skills checklist.

Results

Mean knowledge scores increased significantly from 60.3% to 77.6% (p < 0.001). Residents also reported increased familiarity with the concept of health literacy (mean response 3.2 vs. 4.5 on a 5 point scale), importance placed on health literacy (4.2 vs. 4.9), frequency of considering health literacy in patient care (3.3 vs. 4.0), and confidence in communicating with low literacy patients (3.3 vs. 4.1) (all p < 0.001). Use of plain language increased significantly from 33% to 86% (p = 0.023). There were nonsignificant increases in the use of teach-back (0–36%, p = 0.116) and encouraging questions (0–14%, p = 0.502).

Conclusion

Training in clear health communication improves resident knowledge, attitudes, and skills regarding health literacy.

Practice implications

The increased use of clear health communication techniques can significantly improve the care and outcomes of vulnerable patients with limited health literacy.     

Giving residents tools to talk about behavior change: A motivational interviewing curriculum description and evaluation

Objective

To determine whether a motivational interviewing (MI) curriculum is effective in teaching internal medicine residents core MI skills and the empathic, nonjudgmental MI style.

Methods

Nineteen third-year residents met for 12 h with a faculty instructor. Teaching methods included lecture, written exercises, a simulated patient exercise, and discussion of residents’ behavior change issues.

Results

Residents’ adoption of MI skills was evaluated before and after the course with the Helpful Responses Questionnaire. Residents decreased use of closed-ended questions (from a score of 1.13 to 0.37, p = 0.036) and MI roadblocks (4.00–1.08, p < 0.001), and increased the use of reflections (1.87–4.87, p < 0.001), and use of MI strategies (0.45–0.97, p = 0.017). Residents’ use of open-ended questions decreased from 1.97 to a mean of 1.05, p = 0.023. Residents’ ratings of the course on a 5-point scale varied from 3.7 for written exercises to 4.6/5 for the simulated patient exercise. After the course, residents rated behavior change counseling skills as more important.

Discussion and conclusion

A 12-h course increased residents’ use of core MI communication skills in a written measure, and was highly rated.

Practice implications

Future work should examine whether teaching of the empathic, collaborative MI stance impacts patient outcomes.