The purpose of the study is to improve patient-physician communication and clinical decisions in the context of serious illness that may affect important clinical outcomes. The investigators will examine how variations in communication patterns and clinical decisions are affected by patient demographics (e.g age, sex), patient interactional style (e.g. communication behaviors) and physician characteristics (e.g. attitudes, background, training).
This will be a randomized field experiment. Physicians will receive two unannounced covert standardized patient (SP) visits during the 12-24 months after enrollment. SPs are trained actors who will pose as patients to assess physician behavior and communication. Each SP will present just like a real patient, and will have a standardized fabricated scenario and identity. The SP visit will be unannounced; the physician will not be informed at the time of the visit that they are seeing an SP. The visits will be covertly audio-recorded. This is being conducted at 3 sites: University of Rochester, Rochester, NY; Purdue, IN; and University of Michigan.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
96
University Of Rochester
Rochester, New York, United States
Physicians Communication Style
To examine the degree to which physicians communication style (ex inclusive, authoritative) and clinical decisions (ex. aggressive,passive) differ according to patient characteristics. Unit of Measure: Audio recordings of office visits, will be transcribed, deidentified, and coded.
Time frame: 2 years
Physician Communication Moderators (Sex,Class)
To examine how patients participating in their care reduces these patient-specific differences in physician communication behaviors and decisions. Unit of Measure: Audio recordings of office visits, will be transcribed, deidentified, and coded.
Time frame: 2 years
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.