Patient-physician communication in the primary care visits of African Americans and whites with depression.
BACKGROUND
Little research investigates the role of patient-physician communication in understanding racial disparities in depression treatment.


OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to compare patient-physician communication patterns for African-American and white patients who have high levels of depressive symptoms.


METHODS
This is a cross-sectional study of primary care visits of 108 adult patients (46 white, 62 African American) who had depressive symptoms measured by the Medical Outcomes Study-Short Form (SF-12) Mental Component Summary Score and were receiving care from one of 54 physicians in urban community-based practices.


RESULTS
Communication behaviors, obtained from coding of audiotapes, and physician perceptions of patients' physical and emotional health status and stress levels were measured by post-visit surveys.


RESULTS
African-American patients had fewer years of education and reported poorer physical health than whites. There were no racial differences in the level of depressive symptoms. Depression communication occurred in only 34% of visits. The average number of depression-related statements was much lower in the visits of African-American than white patients (10.8 vs. 38.4 statements, p = .02). African-American patients also experienced visits with less rapport building (20.7 vs. 29.7 statements, p = .009). Physicians rated a higher percentage of African-American than white patients as being in poor or fair physical health (69% vs. 40%, p = .006), and even in visits where depression communication occurred, a lower percentage of African-American than white patients were considered by their physicians to have significant emotional distress (67% vs. 93%, p = .07).


CONCLUSIONS
This study reveals racial disparities in communication among primary care patients with high levels of depressive symptoms. Physician communication skills training programs that emphasize recognition and rapport building may help reduce racial disparities in depression care.
Ghods
Bri K
BK
Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Roter
Debra L
DL
Ford
Daniel E
DE
Larson
Susan
S
Arbelaez
Jose J
JJ
Cooper
Lisa A
LA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003142:Communication; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000628:therapy; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D054625:Healthcare Disparities; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D010821:Physicians, Family; D014481:United States; D014505:Urban Population