title: Factors associated with patient reports of positive physician relational communication.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the patient, physician, and visit-related factors associated with patient ratings of positive physician relational communication.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pre- and post-visit surveys were conducted with 485 patients attending a routine periodic health exam with one of 64 participating physicians. The audio-recorded visits were coded for elements of patient-physician communication including assertive responses, partnership building, question asking, supportive talk, and expressions of concern.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patient reports of positive physician relational communication were associated with patient perceptions of how well the physician understood the patient's health care preferences and values, a patient-physician interaction outside of the exam room, and physician-prompted patient expressions of concern.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In addition to a patient's perception of their relationship with their physician going into the visit, relatively simple acts like extending the interaction beyond the exam room and ensuring that patients feel invited to express concerns they may have during the visit may influence patient perceptions of physician relational communication.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study offers preliminary support for the idea that relational communication and its associated benefits may be fostered through simple physician-driven acts such as interacting with patients outside of the exam room and encouraging patients to express concerns within the visit.
authors.affiliation: Department of Social and Behavioral Health, Virginia Commonwealth University, PO Box 980149, Richmond, VA 23298, USA. shayla@vcu.edu
authors.forename: L Aubree
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Shay
authors.forename: Levent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dumenci
authors.forename: Laura A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Siminoff
authors.forename: Susan A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Flocke
authors.forename: Jennifer Elston
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Lafata
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D006279:Health Maintenance Organizations; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009819:Office Visits; D010358:Patient Participation; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010465:Perception; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000592:standards; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013637:Tape Recording; D014768:Virginia