Caught in the act? Prevalence, predictors, and consequences of physician detection of unannounced standardized patients.

Objective. To examine the prevalence, predictors, and consequences of physician detection of unannounced standardized patients (SPs) in a study of the impact of direct-to-consumer advertising on treatment for depression. Data Sources.

Patient-centered communication and diagnostic testing.

Purpose: Although patient-centered communication is associated with improved health and patient trust, information about the impact of patient-centered communication on health care costs is limited. We studied the relationship between patient-centered communication and diagnostic testing expenditures.

Methods: We undertook an observational cross-sectional study using covert standardized patient visits to study physician interaction style and its relationship to diagnostic testing costs.