Physicians, nonphysician healthcare providers, and patients communicating in hepatitis C: an in-office sociolinguistic study.

Full Abstract

In-office conversations about hepatitis C can impact patients' perceptions of outcomes, as well as medication adherence. This study analyzed interactions between physicians, nonphysician healthcare providers (including nurses), and patients with hepatitis C virus infection in order to examine differences based on number and type of providers participating. Gastroenterologists, nonphysician healthcare providers, and patients with hepatitis C virus infection were video- and audio-recorded during regularly scheduled visits. Recordings were transcribed and analyzed using validated sociolinguistic techniques. Thirty-four visits took place with a physician only, 4 with a nonphysician healthcare provider only, and 25 with both providers (9 concurrent and 16 consecutive). Differences among the participant schema included visit length, patient "talk-time," and motivation provided. When providers saw patients consecutively, differing information was sometimes provided. In visits where providers saw the patient concurrently, competing authority between providers and exclusion of the patient through use of medical jargon were obstacles to ideal communication. Differences in hepatitis C-related interactions based on the number and type of participants suggest opportunities for improved communication. In visits with multiple providers, physicians and nurses should attempt to ensure that they (a) avoid supplying differing information, (b) present a "unified front" to avoid competing authority, and (c) minimize the use of medical jargon, which excludes patients from participating in their own healthcare.

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Author information

Author/s: Hamilton, Heidi E (HE); Gordon, Cynthia (C); Nelson, Meaghan (M); Kerbleski, Marian (M);

Affiliation: Department of Linguistics, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Comparative Study; Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Gastroenterology nursing : the official journal of the Society of Gastroenterology Nurses and Associates (Gastroenterol Nurs), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: -2006 Sep-Oct; vol 29 (issue 5) : pp 364-70

Dates: Created 2006/10/13; Completed 2006/12/19; Revised 2007/11/15;

PMID: 17038837, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adult
Aged
Attitude of Health Personnel
Attitude to Health
Communication
Female
Gastroenterology
Hepatitis C - drug therapy; psychology; virology
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Motivation
Nurse Practitioners - psychology
Nursing Methodology Research

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