Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2010 Sep;138(3):628-34.
doi: 10.1378/chest.09-2328. Epub 2010 Mar 18.

Patient-clinician communication: associations with important health outcomes among veterans with COPD

Christopher G Slatore  1 , Laura M Cecere, Lynn F Reinke, Linda Ganzini, Edmunds M Udris, Brianna R Moss, Chris L Bryson, J Randall Curtis, David H Au
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Patient-clinician communication: associations with important health outcomes among veterans with COPD

Christopher G Slatore et al. Chest. 2010 Sep.

Abstract

Background: High quality patient-clinician communication is widely advocated, but little is known about which health outcomes are associated with communication for patients with COPD.

Methods: Using a cross-sectional study of 342 veterans enrolled in a randomized controlled trial, we evaluated the association of communication, measured with the quality of communication (QOC) instrument, with subject-reported quality of clinician care, breathing problem confidence, and general self-rated health. We measured these associations using general estimating equations and adjusted odds ratios (OR) of patient-reported outcomes associated with one-point changes in QOC scores.

Results: Nearly one-half of the subjects reported receiving the best imaginable care (47%), whereas fewer reported being confident with their breathing problems all the time (29%) or in very good or excellent health (15%). General communication was associated with best-imagined quality of care (OR, 4.29; 95% CI, 2.84-6.48; P < .001) and confidence in dealing with breathing problems all the time (OR, 1.74; 95% CI, 1.34-2.25; P < .001) but not general self-rated health (OR, 1.19; 95% CI, 0.92-1.55; P = .19). Specific clinician behaviors with larger associations with higher quality care included listening, caring, and attentiveness. The associations between general communication and quality care increased over time (P for interaction .03).

Conclusions: Communication between patients and clinicians is associated with quality of care and confidence in dealing with breathing problems, and this association may change over time. Attention to specific communication strategies may lead to improvements in the care of patients with COPD.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Halbert RJ, Natoli JL, Gano A, Badamgarav E, Buist AS, Mannino DM. Global burden of COPD: systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur Respir J. 2006;28(3):523–532. - PubMed
    1. Sin DD, Anthonisen NR, Soriano JB, Agusti AG. Mortality in COPD: role of comorbidities. Eur Respir J. 2006;28(6):1245–1257. - PubMed
    1. Lopez AD, Shibuya K, Rao C, et al. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: current burden and future projections. Eur Respir J. 2006;27(2):397–412. - PubMed
    1. Rabe KF, Hurd S, Anzueto A, et al. Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease Global strategy for the diagnosis, management, and prevention of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: GOLD executive summary. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2007;176(6):532–555. - PubMed
    1. Committee on Quality of Health Care in America . Institute of Medicine; Crossing the Quality Chasm: A New Health System for 21st Century. Washington, DC: National Academies Press; 2001. - PubMed

Publication types