Race differences in patient trust and distrust from audio-recorded cardiology encounters.

Objective: Many have reported racial disparities in self-reported trust in clinicians but have not directly assessed expressions of trust and distrust in physician-patient encounters. We created a codebook to examine racial differences in patient trust and distrust through audio-recorded cardiologist-patient interactions.

Methods: We analyzed data from a randomized controlled trial of audio-recorded outpatient cardiology encounters (50 White and 51 Black patients).

A qualitative analysis of trust and distrust within patient-clinician interactions.

Objectives: Trust represents a key quality of strong clinician-patient relationships. Many have attempted to assess patient-reported trust. However, most trust measures suffer from ceiling effects, with no variability, making it not possible to examine predictors of trust and distrust.

Patient and Caregiver Expression of Reluctance and Ambivalence During Palliative Care Encounters.

Patients with serious illness and their caregivers often face challenging decisions. When faced with these decisions, patients and caregivers may display signs of ambivalence and reluctance toward end-of-life decision making. We recruited 22 palliative care clinicians to participate in a communication coaching study.

Examining the relationship between clinician communication and patient participatory behaviors in cardiology encounters.

Objectives: Examine the association of coder ratings of cardiologist behaviors and global scores of cardiologist communication style with patient participation in clinic encounters.

Methods: We coded transcripts of clinic encounters for patient participatory behaviors: asking questions, assertive statements, and expressing negative emotions; clinician behavior counts: reflective statements, open-ended questions, empathic statements, and eliciting questions. We used general linear regression models to examine associations of mean number of patient participatory behaviors with clinician behaviors.