Communication between older women and physicians: preliminary implications for satisfaction and intention to have mammography.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the associations between physician communication styles and their older patients' intentions to get mammography and satisfaction with physician communication.


METHODS
This cross-sectional mixed methods study was conducted in a teaching hospital outpatient clinic with faculty general internists (n=7) and their female patients aged 65 years and older (n=56). Audiotaped communication was coded by researchers using the multidimensional interactional analysis and assisted doctor-elderly patient transactions coding systems. Demographic data was collected prior to the visit. Data on intention to have mammography and satisfaction with communication were collected immediately post-visit.


RESULTS
The majority of encounters had some degree of joint decision-making. Communication styles tended to be associated with women's intentions to have screening mammography. Patients who described communication as "deep", "trusting" and "bonding" were more satisfied with communication than women who rated physician communication as less trusting (p=0.03, 0.02 and 0.02, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Physicians' communication styles affect their older female patients' satisfaction. In this preliminary study, older women who rated communication as being deep, trusting and bonding tended to have a greater intention to have mammography.


CONCLUSIONS
Improving physicians' communication styles may increase satisfaction with physician communication and result in higher mammography adherence among older female patients.
Liang
Wenchi
W
Department of Oncology, Division of Health Behaviors and Outcomes, Georgetown University Medical Center and Cancer Control Program, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Washington, DC, USA. liangw1@georgetown.edu
Kasman
Deborah
D
Wang
Judy H
JH
Yuan
Elaine H
EH
Mandelblatt
Jeanne S
JS
D000368:Aged / Q000523:psychology*; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003142:Communication; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005180:Faculty, Medical; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D007388:Internal Medicine; D008297:Male; D008327:Mammography / Q000523:psychology*; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D035502:Trust; D014930:Women / Q000523:psychology*