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New Brief from Mathematica Focuses on Provider/Patient Communication in Health Care
Contact: Cheryl Pedersen, (609) 275-2258
PRINCETON, N.J. (February 13, 2009)—Effective communication between patients and their health care providers can improve the quality of health care. A new issue brief from Mathematica Policy Research, Inc., explores the question of what constitutes quality in a health care encounter from a patient’s perspective.
Mathematica conducted eight focus groups with African Americans, Latinos, Asian Indians, and whites. Participants were asked to define quality in the context of a visit to a primary care physician, and to describe their ideal visit and the characteristics of an excellent physician. Although participants frequently mentioned factors related to the health care setting—for example, waiting times, appearance of the doctor’s office, and efficiency of staff—their most common issues related to patient-provider communication.
The study suggests that patients value providers who take the time to familiarize themselves with their patients’ social and cultural backgrounds during office visits. They also appreciate providers who practice good listening and therapeutic communication skills.
“Research suggests that members of racial and ethnic minority groups are more likely to report communication barriers with their physicians, especially when the patient and provider are of different ethnic backgrounds,” said Ann Bagchi, lead author of the brief and a researcher at Mathematica. “Understanding the needs and expectations of patients can help health care providers enhance their communication skills and subsequently, improve the quality of care they provide.”
“Focus on Quality: Communication in the Health Care Encounter,” by Bagchi, Raquel af Ursin, and Alicia Leonard is available at http://www.mathematica-mpr.com/publications/redirect_pubsdb.asp?strSite=pdfs/Health/healthcareencounter.pdf.
The project was funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
Mathematica, a nonpartisan research firm, conducts high quality, objective policy research and surveys to improve public well-being. Its clients include federal and state governments, foundations, and private-sector and international organizations. The employee-owned company, with offices in Princeton, N.J., Washington, D.C., Cambridge, Mass., Ann Arbor, Mich., and Oakland, Calif., has conducted some of the most important studies of health care, education, welfare, employment, nutrition, and early childhood policies and programs in the U.S.