Associations between provider communication and personal recovery outcomes

Eunice C Wong,Joshua Breslau,Rebecca L Collins,M Audrey Burnam,Matthew S Cefalu,Elizabeth Roth

doi:10.1186/s12888-019-2084-9

Abstract

BackgroundThis study examined whether two types of provider communication considered important to quality of care (i.e., shows respect and explains understandably) are associated with mental health outcomes related to personal recovery (i.e., connectedness, hope, internalized stigma, life satisfaction, and empowerment). This study also tested whether these associations varied by the type of provider seen (i.e., mental health professional versus general medical doctor).MethodsThis sample included participants from the 2014 California Well-Being Survey, a representative survey of California residents with probable mental illness, who had recently obtained mental health services (N = 429). Multiple regression was used to test associations between provider communication and personal recovery outcomes and whether these associations were modified by provider type.ResultsProviders showing respect was associated with better outcomes across all five of the personal recovery domains, connectedness (β = 1.12; p < .001), hope (β = 0.72; p < .0001), empowerment (β = 0.38; p < .05), life satisfaction (β = 1.10; p < .001) and internalized stigma (β = − 0.49; p < .05). Associations between provider showing respect and recovery outcomes were stronger among those who had seen a mental health professional only versus a general medical doctor only.ConclusionsRespectful communication may result in greater personal recovery from mental health problems. Respecting consumer perspectives is a hallmark feature of both recovery-oriented services and quality care, yet these fields have operated independently of one another. Greater integration between these two areas could significantly improve recovery-oriented mental health outcomes and quality of care.

Highlights

This study examined whether two types of provider communication considered important to quality of care are associated with mental health outcomes related to personal recovery
Using the 2014 California Well-being Survey, a cross-sectional population surveillance survey of California adults with probable mental illness, this study aims to: (1) empirically test whether personal recovery outcomes are related to consumer experiences of two aspects of provider communication – showing respect and explaining things in an understandable way; and (2) assess whether the associations between provider communication and personal recovery outcomes differ depending on whether care is provided by general medical doctors versus mental health professionals
Participants and procedures Individuals who participated in the 2013 California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) and reported symptoms of mental distress were recruited to participate in the 2014 California Well-Being Survey (CWBS)

Summary

Introduction

This study examined whether two types of provider communication considered important to quality of care (i.e., shows respect and explains understandably) are associated with mental health outcomes related to personal recovery (i.e., connectedness, hope, internalized stigma, life satisfaction, and empowerment). Embedded within the World Health Organization’s constitution is the principle that “Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity” [1]. Counter to a dominant focus on pathology, positive psychology emphasizes facets of well-being such as life satisfaction, hope, and social connectedness [3, 4] These dimensions of well-being have been linked to a variety of physical health outcomes including cardiovascular disease, mortality, and longevity, raising their prominence as outcomes to be promoted and tracked at the population level [2, 5].

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