title: Physician eye contact and elder patient perceptions of understanding and adherence.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To Examine physician eye contact (EC), patient understanding and adherence.
  
  
  METHODS
  Secondary analysis of National Institute of Aging videotapes (N=52) of physician-elder patients in two visit types: (1) routine (n=20); (2) anxiety-provoking (n=32) was conducted. Self-reports of understanding and adherence were used. History-taking segments were qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed for relationships between EC, understanding and adherence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Qualitative analysis showed: (1) two salient EC elements--frequency, type (brief or sustained)--and verbal synchronicity were commonly invoked; (2) conjoint unfolding of three communication elements--"looking, listening and talking"--may be salient for patient outcomes; (3) despite differing EC patterns in routine and anxiety provoking visits, statistical analyses showed patient understanding and adherence ratings were similar in the sample population comprising two visit types; no significant correlations between EC elements and understanding and adherence were found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Salience of EC for patient-centered communication is shown in prior research. Present findings broaden the significance of EC by including verbal synchronicity. Methodological limitations may account for no significant correlations between EC and patient outcomes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Using suggested framework for operationalizing EC elements, including verbally synchronous communication, may facilitate patient-centeredness and have positive implications for patient understanding and adherence.
authors.affiliation: The University of Chicago, Department of Medicine, Section of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine, Chicago, IL 60637-1470, USA. rbhat@medicine.bsd.uchicago.edu
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gorawara-Bhat
authors.forename: David L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Dethmers
authors.forename: Mary Ann
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Cook
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged / Q000523:psychology*; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D032882:Comprehension; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009633:Nonverbal Communication; D009819:Office Visits; D010349:Patient Compliance; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D018802:Patient-Centered Care; D010465:Perception; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014743:Videotape Recording
keywords: Adherence; Eye contact; Nonverbal communication; Patient understanding; Physician–patient communication