Patient-centered Communication Research Articles

Finding the Value: Identifying the Key Elements of Recorded Clinic Visits From the Perspective of Patients, Clinicians, and Caregivers.

We aimed to understand what patients, caregivers and clinicians identified as the most important information from their audio-recorded clinic visits and why. We recruited patients, caregivers and clinicians from primary and speciality care clinics at an academic medical centre in New Hampshire, U.S. Participants reviewed a recording or transcript of their visit, identifying meaningful moments and the reasons why. Two researchers performed a summative content analysis of the data. Sixteen patients, four with caregivers, from six clinicians participated. Patients, caregivers and clinicians identified a median of 7.5 (3-20), 12.5 (6-50) and 18 (4-31) meaningful visit moments, respectively. Moments identified were similar across stakeholders, including patient education, symptoms, recommendations and medications. Four themes emerged as a rationale for finding visit information meaningful: providing and receiving information, sharing the patient experience, forming a care plan, and providing emotional support. Clinicians rarely identified patient statements as important. There was considerable agreement between patients, clinicians and caregivers regarding visit information that is most valuable. Patient contributions may be undervalued by clinicians. These findings can be used to improve patient-centred visit communication by focusing visit summaries and decision support on information of the most value to participants.

Communicating a Pediatric Leukemia Diagnosis to a Child and Their Family: A Qualitative Study into Oncologists' Perspectives.

A pediatric cancer diagnosis is overwhelming and stressful for the whole family. Patient-centered communication during the diagnostic conversation can support medical and psychosocial adaptation to the disease. Treatment of pediatric leukemia has become increasingly complex and requires a specific skillset from clinicians in effectively conveying information to families. The objective of the current study was to gain insight in the experiences and perspectives of pediatric oncologists when communicating leukemia diagnoses to families. In this exploratory qualitative study, oncologists were eligible to participate for each diagnostic conversation between May 2022 and February 2023 of families participating in a larger study. Twenty-six semi-structed interviews with 16 oncologists were thematically analyzed. Two interrelated conversational goals were identified: (i) informing the family about the illness, prognosis, and treatment; and (ii) creating trust and comfort for the family implying they are in the right place for maximal chance of survival. Oncologists experienced a challenge in balancing a high amount of information provision in a short timespan with simultaneously monitoring the (emotional) capacity and needs of the family to process information. Remarkably, oncologists commonly seem to rely on intuition to guide the family through the diagnostic conversation. They mentioned to sometimes postpone answering to family-specific informational needs and prioritized information they assume to be more helpful for the family at that time. During diagnostic conversations, oncologists aim to convey information they assume supports the needs of the family. Future research should investigate how these communication strategies are perceived by families.

Individuals' Desire for Social Needs Sharing Among Healthcare Providers: Findings from the 2022 Health Information National Trends Survey.

Increasingly, health systems are collecting and using social needs data, yet there is limited information about individuals' preferences for how social needs information is shared among providers for treatment purposes. To explore the connection between experiencing social needs and concerns about healthcare providers sharing social needs information. A nationally representative, cross-sectional study of 6252 US community-dwelling adults (≥ 18 years of age) who responded to the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS 6) (response rate 28.1%) from March to November 2022. Core measures include experiencing social needs in the past year (food, transportation, housing issues), and comfort with providers sharing social needs information with each other for treatment purposes. Other key independent variables included patient-centered communication, discrimination, trust, and quality of care. Odds of reporting experiencing a social need varied by age, race, education, and income, yet those 75 years or older (compared to ages 18-34) had higher odds of reporting feeling comfortable with providers sharing information about social needs. Those who reported having experienced discrimination in healthcare had lower odds of reporting comfort with providers sharing information about food (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.63; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.41-0.98) and transportation (aOR, 0.64; 95%CI, 0.44-0.94) needs. Those who trusted the healthcare system had higher odds of being comfortable with providers sharing information about unmet needs for food (aOR, 1.33; 95%CI, 1.07-1.65). Also, those who report better patient-centered communication and quality of care had higher odds of being comfortable with providers sharing information on unmet social needs. Individuals' preferences regarding social needs information sharing for treatment purposes, as well as experience of discrimination, trust in healthcare, quality of care, and patient-provider communication, should be considered in health system efforts to capture social needs information.

P1055 Refusing Stoma-Forming Surgery: Preliminary Findings from an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Abstract Background Stoma-forming surgery (SFS) is often viewed as a last resort for managing severe Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), encompassing Crohn’s Disease (CD) and Ulcerative Colitis (UC) (1). Despite its potential life-saving benefits, many patients refuse this intervention due to psychological, social, and cultural factors. While substantial research has explored the experiences of individuals living with a stoma, less is known about the perspectives of those who decline this procedure (2,3). This study investigates the decision-making process and lived experiences of IBD patients who refuse SFS. To explore the psychological, social, and contextual factors influencing IBD patients’ refusal of SFS and to understand how they navigate their disease while rejecting this treatment option. Methods Using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven adult IBD patients (3 men, and 4 women) who declined SFS. Participants were recruited from a gastroenterology department and online forums. Interviews focused on their disease experience, decision-making processes, and perceptions of life with and without a stoma. Verbatim transcripts were analyzed to identify emergent themes. Results Preliminary analysis revealed four main themes: 1. Personal Perception: Fear of lifestyle changes, social stigma, and surgery; mixed feelings of acceptance and coping. 2. External Factors: Influences from healthcare professionals, diagnosis, and treatment processes. 3. Educational Gaps: Inadequate or improper information provided about SFS. 4. Hope: Optimism for disease remission and new treatment options. A recurring observation was a tendency towards “magical thinking,” where patients avoided discussing SFS to deny its existence. Despite rejecting surgery, participants expressed ambivalence and ongoing struggles with their decision. Conclusion Patients’ refusal of SFS is multifaceted, influenced by personal biases, external circumstances, and a lack of tailored education. Addressing these concerns through comprehensive psychological support and patient-centered communication may improve decision-making and treatment outcomes for this vulnerable population.

N46 Exploring the impact of initiating a Patient Reported Outcome Measure (PROM) by utilising an Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) pre clinic questionnaire prior to patients attending an IBD outpatients clinic

Abstract Background Initiating a Patient Reported Outcome Measure (PROM) through an Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) pre-clinic questionnaire can have a significant impact on the management and outcomes of patients attending an IBD outpatient clinic. This includes improved patient-centred care by enhanced understanding of the patient experience and targeted consultations, improved clinical outcomes, enhanced communication and shared decision making and increased efficiency and resource utilisation. Methods The PROM pre-clinic questionnaire was designed by the Consultant Nurse and was sent to a sample group of patients with IBD for their thoughts. The Consultant Nurse was keen to hear the views of the patients on the suitability of the questions, length of the questionnaire, any topics not covered in the questionnaire, and why we are requesting this to be completed prior to clinics. This exercise proved very popular with the patients as they felt that we really wanted to know what they thought and that they were involved from the start. Results Initiating a Patient Reported Outcome Measure (PROM) through an IBD Pre-Clinic Questionnaire has led to a number of significant improvements within the clinic for both patients and service alike, This includes early identification and interventions for patients, individualised treatment plans, better understanding of patient concerns, increased patient engagement, efficient use of clinic time, and quality improvement initiatives. The main improvement is that the patients loves it as it gives them the vehicle to highlight their concerns. The PROM pre-clinic questionnaire was started on one clinic and is now used on all of my clinics. Now we know that the system works we will be sending this questionnaire to our patients virtually prior to each clinic and will be rolling this out to all nurse led clinics. Conclusion Initiating a Patient Reported Outcome Measure (PROM) using an IBD pre-clinic questionnaire has the potential to significantly enhance the management of IBD in outpatient settings. It improves patient-centred care, clinical outcomes, communication, efficiency, and overall patient engagement and satisfaction. While there are challenges to implementation, the benefits for both patients and healthcare providers make a compelling case for the adoption of PROMs in IBD management.

What's Going On With Me and How Can I Better Manage My Health? The Potential of GPT-4 to Transform Discharge Letters Into Patient-Centered Letters to Enhance Patient Safety: Prospective, Exploratory Study.

For hospitalized patients, the discharge letter serves as a crucial source of medical information, outlining important discharge instructions and health management tasks. However, these letters are often written in professional jargon, making them difficult for patients with limited medical knowledge to understand. Large language models, such as GPT, have the potential to transform these discharge summaries into patient-friendly letters, improving accessibility and understanding. This study aims to use GPT-4 to convert discharge letters into more readable patient-centered letters. We evaluated how effectively and comprehensively GPT-4 identified and transferred patient safety-relevant information from the discharge letters to the transformed patient letters. Three discharge letters were created based on common medical conditions, containing 72 patient safety-relevant pieces of information, referred to as "learning objectives." GPT-4 was prompted to transform these discharge letters into patient-centered letters. The resulting patient letters were analyzed for medical accuracy, patient centricity, and the ability to identify and translate the learning objectives. Bloom's taxonomy was applied to analyze and categorize the learning objectives. GPT-4 addressed the majority (56/72, 78%) of the learning objectives from the discharge letters. However, 11 of the 72 (15%) learning objectives were not included in the majority of the patient-centered letters. A qualitative analysis based on Bloom's taxonomy revealed that learning objectives in the "Understand" category (9/11) were more frequently omitted than those in the "Remember" category (2/11). Most of the missing learning objectives were related to the content field of "prevention of complications." By contrast, learning objectives regarding "lifestyle" and "organizational" aspects were addressed more frequently. Medical errors were found in a small proportion of sentences (31/787, 3.9%). In terms of patient centricity, the patient-centered letters demonstrated better readability than the discharge letters. Compared with discharge letters, they included fewer medical terms (132/860, 15.3%, vs 165/273, 60/4%), fewer abbreviations (43/860, 5%, vs 49/273, 17.9%), and more explanations of medical terms (121/131, 92.4%, vs 0/165, 0%). Our study demonstrates that GPT-4 has the potential to transform discharge letters into more patient-centered communication. While the readability and patient centricity of the transformed letters are well-established, they do not fully address all patient safety-relevant information, resulting in the omission of key aspects. Further optimization of prompt engineering may help address this issue and improve the completeness of the transformation.

Improving care experiences for premenstrual symptoms and disorders in the United Kingdom (UK): a mixed-methods approach

BackgroundPoor care experiences are reported for premenstrual disorders, which may result in negative outcomes such as distress, reduced healthcare engagement, and delays to diagnosis. This research aimed to explore healthcare experiences for premenstrual symptoms in the United Kingdom and identify areas for potential improvements based on participant responses.MethodAn online survey was delivered, with participants recruited via social media. Experiences of care were explored using quantitative and qualitative questions. Quantitative data were explored using descriptive statistics, with group differences investigated using Mann–Whitney U tests and chi-square tests as appropriate. Qualitative data regarding care improvements was explored using inductive thematic analysis.ResultsThe sample included 339 participants who completed at least 97% of the survey, reported premenstrual symptoms in consecutive cycles, and had sought formal help for these symptoms. Mean age was 34.66 (SD = 5.88), with the majority identifying as women (n = 332, 97.94%) and white/Caucasian (n = 311, 91.74%). 75.22% (n = 255) felt that care was poor. 44.25% (n = 150) felt their symptoms were not taken seriously. 37.76% perceived a lack of healthcare professional knowledge (n = 128). The majority did not receive recommendations of non-formal sources of help (i.e., websites, support groups; 84.96%, n = 288) or lifestyle changes (74.63%, n = 253). Better care experiences were associated with healthcare professionals taking symptoms seriously (U = 1383.00, p < .001), higher perceived healthcare professional knowledge (U = 1370.50, p < .001), and receiving recommendations of non-formal sources of help (X2 = 48.251, df = 1, p < .001, Φc = .382) or lifestyle changes (X2 = 7.849, df = 1, p = .005, Φc = .152). Thematic analysis revealed 8 aspects of care improvement: Empathetic care provision; Healthcare professional education, understanding, and research; Comprehensive symptom assessment and investigations; Diagnosis; Professional support and treatment provision; Signposting or referral to additional resources or sources of help; Wider healthcare system improvements; and Patient role/voice and preferences.ConclusionsPoor care experiences for premenstrual symptoms in the UK are characterised by dismissive attitudes and perceived lack of knowledge. Improved training provision for healthcare professionals is required to address this and other aspects of care identified by qualitative analysis. However, research is needed to identify appropriate methods to deliver training. Utilisation of standardised screening tools and patient-centred communication will likely ensure comprehensive assessments and reduce self-advocacy burdens.

Patient-physician communication in advanced kidney disease: a narrative review.

The increasing prevalence of kidney failure highlights the crucial need for effective patient-physician communication to improve health-related quality of life and ensure adherence to treatment plans. This narrative review evaluates communication practices in the context of advanced kidney disease, focusing on the frameworks of shared decision-making, advanced care planning, and communication skills training among nephrologists. The findings highlight the significant gaps in patient-physician communication, particularly in the domains of advanced care planning, shared decision-making, and dialysis withdrawal. When communication in such situations falls short, it affects patient satisfaction and outcomes. Effective communication is essential for managing advanced kidney disease, requiring a patient-centered approach that includes patients, families, and healthcare providers in care planning. This review advocates for a more integrated, empathic approach to healthcare interactions, emphasizing the importance of including patients, their families, and healthcare providers in a collaborative model based on goals of care. Moreover, it highlights the role of patient-reported outcome measures and patient experience of care in assessing the quality of care in dialysis settings. Here, we call for enhanced training programs regarding communication skills for physicians and emphasize the need for systemic changes to foster patient-centered communication.

Communication needs regarding heart failure trajectory and palliative care between patients and healthcare providers: A cross-sectional study.

Heart failure (HF) is a chronic condition with an unpredictable trajectory, making effective communication between patients and healthcare providers crucial for optimizing outcomes. This study aims to investigate and compare the communication needs regarding HF trajectory and palliative care between patients and healthcare providers and to identify factors associated with the communication needs of patients with HF. A cross-sectional study design was employed, involving 100 patients with HF and 35 healthcare providers. Data were collected using structured questionnaires assessing communication needs, health literacy, self-care behavior, and social support. Statistical analyses were performed, including Spearman's rank correlation, Pearson's correlation, and multiple regression analyses. Patients prioritized communication related to device-related questions, whereas healthcare providers focused more on aspects of HF in daily life. Both groups ranked end-of-life communication as the lowest priority. The communication needs of patients were positively correlated with health literacy (r = 0.27, p = .007), self-care behavior (r = 0.32, p = .001), and social support (r = 0.24, p = .016). Multiple regression analyses indicated that self-care behavior was a significant factor influencing the communication needs of patients (β = 0.27, p = .011). Enhanced patient-centered communication strategies are required to address the communication priority gaps between patients and healthcare providers. Improving health literacy, supporting self-care behaviors, and leveraging social support are critical in meeting patients' communication needs. Tailored communication training for healthcare providers can bridge this gap and improve overall HF management.

Validation of a Cancer-Focused Information Seeking Experience (ISEE) Scale

Background Searching for health information is critical for maintaining one’s health and reducing risk of disease, including cancer. However, some people are more likely to experience challenges in finding and comprehending health information; therefore, it is important to measure health information-seeking behavior. In order to add to prior research conducted with the scale, this study provides the first formal evaluation of the validity and reliability of the four-item, cancer-focused Information Seeking Experience (ISEE) scale in a cross-sectional, nationally representative health survey of U.S. adults. Results Results indicated that the four ISEE scale items were within limits of normality (skew range = -.44–.11; kurtosis range = -1.07 – −.71), exhibited medium to strong pairwise correlations (r’s = .54–.72), and indicated a strong internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = .85). The scale was unidimensional (CFI = .997, TLI = .992, SRMR = .012), and the scale demonstrated construct validity with known sociodemographic characteristics. As predicted, the ISEE scale had relatively weak relationships with the Patient Health Questionnaire for Depression and Anxiety, Patient-Centered Communication Scale, and the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Instrumental Support 4a, demonstrating discriminant validity. Conclusions Tracking information-seeking experience in the population is critical, especially to inform efforts that ensure individuals have accessible, understandable, and reliable information about cancer. The ISEE scale was found to assess various aspects of cancer information-seeking in a reliable and valid manner and may be used in future surveys to track information support needs of those who seek health and cancer information.

Racial equity in and through medical interaction scholarship: A scoping review.

We conducted a systematic scoping review to characterize the landscape of communication scholarship within racial health equity in and through the patient-provider interaction. We employed three waves of data collection to identify relevant articles (N = 454) about racial equity within provider-patient interactions. We iteratively developed a codebook concerning article characteristics, coding for journal names, data source, descriptive characteristics for the study samples, and presence of theory and equity in sections of the manuscripts. This search identified studies (N = 206) that were published in 76 peer-reviewed scientific journals. The majority of studies reported primary data analyses and used survey and interview methodology. Many studies examined participants as patients generally rather than in reference to particular health conditions. Among those with a specific health condition, the largest proportion focused on cancer control. Very few studies included samples with Native American and Pacific Island heritage. Most studies included cisgender men and/or women, but none included transgender men or women. The vast majority of research focused on the patient experience; few centered on providers' and caregivers' experiences. The body of scholarship was largely atheoretical; the most frequently noted constructs were patient-provider communication (including patient-centered communication and patient-centered care), implicit/explicit racial bias, shared decision-making. There was wide variation in the extent to which equity was woven through the manuscripts. Equity is typically mentioned in the literature review, and racial identity in the sample may serve as a marker of racialized experiences. This study demonstrates the need for the development of theory that elevates the centrality of health equity to attend to the bi- or multi-directional flow of communication that shapes the quality of these interactions. These insights can serve as a strong foundation for the development of interventions to address equity in clinical interactions.

Truth-telling, and ethical considerations in terminal care: an Eastern perspective.

Truth-telling for terminally ill patients is a challenging ethical and social issue for Chinese health care professionals. However, despite the existence of ethical and moral standards for nurses, they frequently encounter moral dilemmas when making decisions about truth-telling to patients with end-stage diseases in China. This article aims to provide ethical strategies for clinical nurses in China regarding truth-telling decisions for terminally ill patients on the basis of their individual autonomy. This article first presents a common case scenario in China and then critically discusses ethical issues related to ethical principles and philosophical theories. The aim is to provide the much needed strategy for truth-telling for nurses who are terminally ill rather than to focus on attitudes toward disclosure. This article focuses on nursing morality, ethics, norms, and philosophy in health care and discusses countermeasures taken by nurses in truth-telling decision-making in combination with Chinese Confucian culture. The analysis identifies key ethical strategies tailored to Chinese nurses' practices, emphasizing individual autonomy, cultural sensitivity, and family dynamics in truth-telling decisions. The complexity of end-of-life illness requires Chinese nurses to strengthen the communication training needed to deliver bad news, as well as critical and autonomous thinking and good communication skills when implementing patient- and family-centered care, to achieve true delivery of bad news, thereby increasing patient autonomy and promoting more successful collaboration among patients, families, and providers. To improve the quality of care. Chinese nurses should integrate ethical principles with Confucian values to enhance patient-centered communication, respecting autonomy while adapting to cultural nuances in end-of-life care.

Motivational interviewing: a framework for healthcare assistants to improve patient-centred care

Healthcare assistants are integral to patient care in the UK healthcare system, and often the first point of contact for patients to access care. This article explores the application of motivational interviewing as a transformative approach for healthcare assistants to foster patient engagement and wellbeing. Motivational interviewing is a patient-centred and goal-oriented communication method that addresses ambivalence and resistance, empowering patients to make informed health decisions. By embracing the principles of the approach, which are capability, opportunity and motivation, healthcare assistants can shift from directive methods to a collaborative partnership model.

Patient-Reported Needs in Postoperative Communication After Kidney Stone Surgery.

Patient-centered communication after surgery can enhance patient satisfaction and reduce unplanned clinical contact. However, patient information needs following kidney stone surgery are not well understood, limiting quality improvement efforts. We aimed to characterize patient-reported needs in and preferences for postoperative communication following kidney stone surgery. Patients undergoing common stone procedures were surveyed about the content, volume, and satisfaction with the communication they received after surgery. Patients indicated which information resources they consulted and found most helpful to address their postoperative care questions. Among 52 patients, the majority (75%) identified varying degrees of deficiencies in the communication they received after surgery. Regarding content, respondents were most interested in understanding how their surgery went (90%), the plan for follow-up care (85%), and the specific location of their stone (85%). Regarding volume, respondents consistently indicated interest in intraoperative findings (stone appearance and location) and postoperative care (stent symptoms and location) but the majority did not recall receiving enough information. To address their questions after surgery, respondents most commonly consulted their urologist (71%), discharge paperwork (42%), electronic health record (27%), and the person with whom their urologist spoke after surgery (25%); among these, the majority (54%) reported that their urologist was the single most helpful source of information. Following kidney stone surgery, patients report unmet communication needs related to specific intraoperative findings and follow-up care. Patients indicate high levels of satisfaction with urologist-provided resources. These exploratory findings support quality improvement efforts to optimize delivery of effective, patient-centered communication after surgery.

Impact of Standardized Reporting Systems on Patient Experience in Radiology.

Patient experience is a vital measure of healthcare quality, affecting satisfaction, engagement, and outcomes. Standardized radiology reporting can improve care by enhancing communication, reducing errors, and optimizing workflows. This article examines the role of structured reporting and AI in improving patient experience, addressing challenges like workload imbalances and communication issues. Key points include adopting standardized systems, leveraging AI, and focusing on patient-centered communication. Practical tips are shared to boost reporting accuracy, patient engagement, and care quality.

Applying recommendations for diagnostic disclosure of mild cognitive impairment and dementia: Practical guidance for clinicians.

A comprehensive evaluation for cognitive impairment should culminate with the communication of the diagnosis to patients and their care partners. This diagnostic disclosure sets the stage for subsequent care. Diagnostic disclosure for individuals with cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer's disease (AD) or AD-related dementias (ADRD) is particularly nuanced and requires a conscientious approach. Clinicians must assess patients' understanding and appreciation of symptoms, goals for the evaluation, and desire for information. Because AD/ADRD can impact patients' perceptions of their symptoms, it is recommended to include an informant or care partner for this assessment and for future care. Here, we provide guidance for addressing the complexities of AD/ADRD diagnostic disclosure to build clinicians' confidence in communicating diagnostic findings and a plan of care. HIGHLIGHTS: Diagnostic disclosure is a key part of the evaluation of cognitive impairment. The disclosure process begins at the moment a cognitive evaluation is initiated. Care partners must be included in the cognitive evaluation and diagnostic disclosure. Clinicians should use patient-centered communication for evaluation and disclosure.

Advancing Patient Satisfaction through Innovative Medical Workforce Practices: A Comprehensive Review

Purpose: Patient satisfaction is a fundamental indicator of healthcare quality and is significantly influenced by the practices and innovations implemented by medical workers. This review explores the role of innovative workforce strategies, including training programs, workflow optimization, technological integration, communication strategies, and interdisciplinary collaboration, in advancing patient satisfaction. Methods: A systematic review was conducted using databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science to identify peer-reviewed studies published between 2016 and 2024. Articles were selected based on their focus on medical workforce innovations with measurable patient satisfaction outcomes. The review followed the PRISMA framework for study selection, with data extracted and synthesized thematically. Results: The review identified 36 studies across five key thematic areas. Training programs focusing on communication and empathy showed an average improvement of 25% in patient satisfaction. Workflow optimization demonstrated the highest impact, increasing satisfaction by 30%. Technological innovations such as telehealth and AI improved satisfaction by 28%, while communication strategies and interdisciplinary collaboration contributed to 20% and 18% improvements, respectively. Conclusion: Innovative medical workforce practices significantly enhance patient satisfaction by addressing operational efficiency, technological integration, and patient-centered communication. Addressing barriers such as resource constraints and resistance to change is crucial to ensure sustainable improvements in healthcare delivery.

Effect of two teaching methods on nursing students' acquisition of patient-centered communication competence in older people care: a cluster randomized trial.

Patient-centered communication is an essential skill in nursing, particularly in the care of older adult patients. However, generation Z nursing students, who primarily communicate through digital platforms, face unique challenges in adapting to traditional face-to-face communication with older adults. As a result, there is a need for teaching methods that align with this generation's learning style to enhance their communication skills. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of two teaching methods-standardized patient simulation and role-play-on nursing students' acquisition of patient-centered communication competence in older people care. A controlled cluster-randomized trial was conducted with 124 nursing students, divided into eight teaching groups. Students participated in either a standardized patient simulation or a role-play workshop, each consisting of a 1.5-h online module and a 1.5-h face-to-face session. The three components of patient-centered communication competence-knowledge, skills, and self-efficacy-were assessed using simulated scenarios at pre-test, post-test, and 6-week follow-up. Between-group and within-group differences were measured based on the number of students who achieved competence. Both interventions significantly improved students' knowledge, skills, and self-efficacy in patient-centered communication between pre- and post-tests, with improvements maintained at follow-up. No significant differences were found between the two methods. Both standardized patient simulation and role-play are effective in enhancing patient-centered communication competence in older people care. However, neither method was found to be superior in teaching knowledge, skills, or self-efficacy.

Association of Cancer Risk Perception and Patient-provider Communication with Pap Test Among African American and Sub-Saharan African-born Women.

Black women bear a disproportionately higher burden of cervical cancer than any ethnic/racial group. Patient's cancer risk perceptions and patient-provider communication behavior may influence uptake of cervical cancer screening with Papanicolaou (Pap) test. We examined the association of cancer risk perceptions and patient-provider communication behavior and Pap test uptake. Black women completed a cross-sectional survey on sociodemographic, cancer perceptions, and perceived patient-centered communication behaviors. Multiple linear regression models were fitted to explore the association of perceptions and patient communication behaviors. Women (N = 116) average age was 40 ± 12.7 years and 73% had ever received a Pap test. Women who agreed with the statement that it seemed like everything causes cancer had over four times the odds of having had a Pap test (OR = 4.40, 95% CI = 1.38-13.97, p = .012) while those that responded that when they think about cancer, they automatically think of death had 73% lower odds of having had a Pap test (OR = 0.27, 95% CI = 0.08-0.95, p = .040). The odds of Pap test completion were over 4-fold among those who said their health care provider always or usually gave them the chance to ask health-related questions, compared to those who responded sometimes or never (OR = 4.11, 95% CI = 1.36-12.44; p = .012). Interventions to dispel myths and promote effective patient-provider communications are warranted to address anecdotal cancer risk perceptions and promote patient engagements.

The role of psychology and communication skills in orthodontic practice: a systematic review

Effective communication and psychological strategies are integral to orthodontic practice, influencing patient satisfaction, adherence, and overall treatment outcomes. This systematic review, conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines and registered with PROSPERO (ID: CRD42024560432), examined the role of these strategies in orthodontic care and their integration into educational curricula. A comprehensive search identified studies focusing on communication and psychological interventions in orthodontics. The findings emphasize that patient-centered communication enhances understanding, adherence, and satisfaction. Structured approaches, such as personalized follow-up reminders and digital tools like social media, have shown significant improvements in patient engagement. Psychosocial factors, including anxiety and body image concerns, were identified as critical barriers to adherence, necessitating tailored psychological support and empathy-based communication. Additionally, gaps in orthodontic education were identified, with recommendations for integrating simulations, interprofessional education, and ongoing training into curricula to address these challenges. This review underscores the importance of addressing the psychological and communicative dimensions of orthodontic care, providing actionable recommendations for enhancing patient outcomes and optimizing educational practices. Future research should explore the long-term impact of these strategies and assess their effectiveness across diverse populations.