title: Communication training improves patient-centered provider behavior and screening for soldiers' mental health concerns.
abstract: To evaluate the effectiveness of patient-centered communication training for military providers who conduct post-deployment health screening. The half-day interactive workshop included simulated Soldier patients using video technology.
  
  
  
  Using a quasi-experimental design, all health care providers at four military treatment facilities were recruited for data collection during a four- to nine-day site visit (23 trained providers, 28 providers in the control group, and one provider declined to participate). All Soldiers were eligible to participate and were blinded to provider training status. Immediately after screening encounters, providers reported on their identification of mental health concerns and Soldiers reported on provider communication behaviors resulting in 1,400 matched pairs. Electronic health records were also available for 26,005 Soldiers.
  
  
  
  The workshop was found to increase (1) providers' patient-centered communication behaviors as evaluated by Soldiers; (2) provider identification of Soldier mental health concerns; and (3), related health outcomes including provision of education and referral to a confidential counseling resource.
  
  
  
  Results are promising, but with small effect sizes and study limitations, further research is warranted.
  
  
  
  A brief intensive workshop on patient-centered communication tailored to the military screening context is feasible and may improve key outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA. Electronic address: susan.douglas@vanderbilt.edu.
authors.forename: Susan R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Douglas
authors.affiliation: Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.
authors.forename: Ana Regina
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Vides de Andrade
authors.affiliation: Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Boyd
authors.affiliation: Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.
authors.forename: Melanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leslie
authors.affiliation: Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.
authors.forename: Lynn
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Webb
authors.affiliation: Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.
authors.forename: Lauren
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.affiliation: Behavioral Health Branch, Clinical Support Directorate, Defense Health Agency, Falls Church, VA, USA.
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fraine
authors.affiliation: Behavioral Health Branch, Clinical Support Directorate, Defense Health Agency, Falls Church, VA, USA.
authors.forename: Nicole L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Frazer
authors.affiliation: Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.
authors.forename: Ryan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hargraves
authors.affiliation: Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.
authors.forename: Leonard
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bickman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003142:Communication; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D016544:Patient Simulation; D018802:Patient-Centered Care; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration
keywords: Mental health screening; Military; Patient-centered communication; Post-deployment health concerns; Quasi-experimental design; Simulated patients; Standardized patients; Training