title: Provider communication quality: influence of patients' weight and race.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the relationship between patient weight and provider communication quality and determine whether patient race/ethnicity modifies this association.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a cross-sectional analysis with 2009-2010 medical expenditures panel survey-household component (N=25,971). Our dependent variables were patient report of providers explaining well, listening, showing respect, and spending time. Our independent variables were patient weight status and patient weight-race/ethnicity groups. Using survey weights, we performed multivariate logistic regression to examine the adjusted association between patient weight and patient-provider communication measures, and whether patient race/ethnicity modifies this relationship.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to healthy weight whites, obese blacks were less likely to report that their providers explained things well (OR 0.78; p=0.02) or spent enough time with them (OR 0.81; p=0.04), and overweight blacks were also less likely to report that providers spent enough time with them (OR 0.78; p=0.02). Healthy weight Hispanics were also less likely to report adequate provider explanations (OR 0.74; p=0.04).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study provides preliminary evidence that overweight/obese black and healthy weight Hispanic patients experience disparities in provider communication quality.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Curricula on weight bias and cultural competency might improve communication between providers and their overweight/obese black and healthy weight Hispanic patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Baltimore, USA. Electronic address: Mwong23@jhu.edu.
authors.forename: Michelle S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA.
authors.forename: Kimberly A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Gudzune
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Baltimore, USA.
authors.forename: Sara N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Bleich
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001835:Body Weight; D003142:Communication; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000208:ethnology*; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D044469:Racial Groups / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
keywords: Health disparities; Obesity; Provider communication