Differences in physician communication when patients ask versus tell about religion/spirituality: A pilot study

Christy J.W. Ledford, Mollie R. Canzona, Dean A. Seehusen, Lauren A. Cafferty, Monica E. Schmidt, Joseph C. Huang, Melinda M. Villagran

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Research suggests that physicians should pursue spiritual issues and that patients desire to discuss religion/spirituality (R/S) in medical encounters. This study explored the differences in physician communication in response to patient inquiry or disclosure of R/S and hypothesizes that physician communication will differ when patients disclose R/S as contrasted to inquire about R/S. METHODS: Family physicians and family medicine resident physicians were recruited from a family medicine department at a community hospital (n=27). An objective structured clinical examination, with a standardized patient encounter, was used to expose the participants to a conversation regarding R/S. Participants were assigned, by alternating clustered assignment, to two conditions: patient disclosure of R/S or patient inquiry about physician R/S. The primary outcome measure was physician response, specifically physician-control, partnership-building, and supportive-talk messages. RESULTS: When the patient asks questions about R/S, physicians communicate more control messages and less supportive talk messages than when the patient discloses information about R/S. CONCLUSIONS: Training physicians to anticipate and respond to patient disclosure and inquiry will increase the likelihood they can enact patient-centered strategies. These methods should focus on teaching residents how to be sensitive to the R/S context of their patients and to recognize their own intuitive reactions to patient communication in that context.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)138-142
Number of pages5
JournalFamily medicine
Volume47
Issue number2
StatePublished - 2015
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Family Practice

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