This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (1) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Cegala, D. J. Articles by Post, D. M. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

On Addressing Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities

The Potential Role of Patient Communication Skills Interventions

Douglas M. Post

Ohio State University

Several factors affect observed racial/ethnic health disparities in the United States. Among them are features of provider-patient communication. In Study 1, the literature in patient communication skills training is reviewed to determine the extent to which researchers have reported comparative effects of interventions designed to enhance patients'communication skills and participation in medical interviews. Of the 27 studies reported, only 1 conducted a comparative analysis. In Study 2, a post hoc analysis of available communication skills training data sets is conducted to explore comparative intervention effectiveness. Similar to the results of the single report found in Study 1, the communication intervention was more effective with White than with non-White patients. These results are discussed with respect to implications for addressing racial/ethnic health disparities.

Key Words: health disparities • racial/ethnic • patient communication • patient participation

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?