Health care providers communicate less well with patients with chronic low back pain--a study of encounters at a back pain clinic in Denmark.
We aimed to study the quality of communication between health care providers and patients with low back pain with emphasis on information giving in a back pain clinic, including if characteristics of patients could be associated with communication quality. We videotaped 79 encounters in which 21 providers informed patients about the results of magnetic resonance imaging of the back. Background information about the patients was collected by questionnaires and interview after the encounter. Videotapes were analysed with the Four Habits Coding Scheme (4HCS) in which higher scores mean better communication. There were strong negative correlations between 4HCS scores and the duration of back pain, and patient age. The results were significant for all professional subgroups (doctors, physiotherapists, chiropractors). Communication quality in encounters with back pain patients is worse, the longer the patient has suffered pain. Poor communication quality also seems to be associated with patients being older.
Gulbrandsen
Pål
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HØKH, Research Centre, Akershus University Hospital and Faculty Division Akershus University Hospital, University of Oslo, Norway The Back Research Center, Funen, Denmark FORMI, Ullevål University Hospital, Norway.
Madsen
Henrik Bjarke
HB
Benth
Jurate Saltyte
JS
Lærum
Even
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D000328:Adult; D059019:Clinical Coding / Q000379:methods; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires