A randomized controlled trial of communication training with primary care providers to improve patient-centeredness and health risk communication.
OBJECTIVE
to determine the efficacy and effectiveness of training to improve primary care providers' patient-centered communication skills and proficiency in discussing their patients' health risks.


METHODS
twenty-eight primary care providers participated in a baseline simulated patient interaction and were subsequently randomized into intervention and control groups. Intervention providers participated in training focused on patient-centered communication about behavioral risk factors. Immediate efficacy of training was evaluated by comparing the two groups. Over the next 3 years, all providers participated in two more sets of interactions with patients. Longer term effectiveness was assessed using the interaction data collected at 6 and 18 months post-training.


RESULTS
The intervention providers significantly improved in patient-centered communication and communication proficiencies immediately post-training and at both follow-up time points.


CONCLUSIONS
this study suggests that the brief training produced significant and large differences in the intervention group providers which persisted 2 years after the training.


CONCLUSIONS
the results of this study suggest that primary care providers can be trained to achieve and maintain gains in patient-centered communication, communication skills and discussion of adverse childhood events as root causes of chronic disease.
Helitzer
Deborah L
DL
Department of Family and Community Medicine, 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA. Helitzer@salud.unm.edu
Lanoue
Marianna
M
Wilson
Bronwyn
B
de Hernandez
Brisa Urquieta
BU
Warner
Teddy
T
Roter
Debra
D
D002983:Clinical Competence; D003142:Communication; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016544:Patient Simulation; D018802:Patient-Centered Care; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012306:Risk; D012309:Risk-Taking; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires