African American women and prenatal care: perceptions of patient-provider interaction.
Poor patient-provider interaction among racial/ethnic minorities is associated with disparities in health care. In this descriptive, cross-sectional study, we examine African American women's perspectives and experiences of patient-provider interaction (communication and perceived discrimination) during their initial prenatal visit and their influences on perceptions of care received and prenatal health behaviors. Pregnant African American women (n = 204) and their providers (n = 21) completed a pre- and postvisit questionnaire at the initial prenatal visit. Women were also interviewed face to face at the subsequent return visit. Women perceived high quality patient-provider communication (PPC) and perceived low discrimination in their interaction with providers. Multiple regression analyses showed that PPC had a positive effect on trust in provider (p < .001) and on prenatal care satisfaction (p < .001) but not on adherence to selected prenatal health behaviors. Findings suggest that quality PPC improves the prenatal care experience for African American women.
University of Michigan, School of Nursing, Ann Arbor, USA ginayi@umich.edu.
Chin Hwa Y
CH
Dahlem
University of Michigan, School of Nursing, Ann Arbor, USA.
Antonia M
AM
Villarruel
University of Michigan, School of Nursing, Ann Arbor, USA.
David L
DL
Ronis
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D003142:Communication; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010465:Perception; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
African American; patient–provider communication; prenatal care; satisfaction; trust