title: Randomized trial of a question prompt list to increase patient active participation during interactions with black patients and their oncologists.
abstract: Communication during racially-discordant interactions is often of poor quality and may contribute to racial treatment disparities. We evaluated an intervention designed to increase patient active participation and other communication-related outcomes during interactions between Black patients and non-Black oncologists.
  
  
  
  Participants were 18 non-Black medical oncologists and 114 Black patients at two cancer hospitals in Detroit, Michigan, USA. Before a clinic visit to discuss treatment, patients were randomly assigned to usual care or to one of two question prompt list (QPL) formats: booklet (QPL-Only), or booklet and communication coach (QPL-plus-Coach). Patient-oncologist interactions were video recorded. Patients reported perceptions of the intervention, oncologist communication, role in treatment decisions, and trust in the oncologist. Observers assessed interaction length, patient active participation, and oncologist communication.
  
  
  
  The intervention was viewed positively and did not increase interaction length. The QPL-only format increased patient active participation; the QPL-plus-Coach format decreased patient perceptions of oncologist communication. No other significant effects were found.
  
  
  
  This QPL booklet is acceptable and increases patient active participation in racially-discordant oncology interactions. Future research should investigate whether adding physician-focused interventions might improve other outcomes.
  
  
  
  This QPL booklet is acceptable and can improve patient active participation in racially-discordant oncology interactions.
authors.affiliation: Wayne State University/Karmanos Cancer Institute, 4100 John R, Detroit, MI, USA. Electronic address: egglys@karmanos.org.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Eggly
authors.affiliation: Wayne State University/Karmanos Cancer Institute, 4100 John R, Detroit, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Lauren M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Hamel
authors.affiliation: Wayne State University/Karmanos Cancer Institute, 4100 John R, Detroit, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Tanina S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Foster
authors.affiliation: Wayne State University/Karmanos Cancer Institute, 4100 John R, Detroit, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Terrance L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Albrecht
authors.affiliation: Henry Ford Hospital/Josephine Ford Cancer Institute, Detroit, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chapman
authors.affiliation: Wayne State University/Karmanos Cancer Institute, 4100 John R, Detroit, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Felicity W K
authors.initials: FWK
authors.lastname: Harper
authors.affiliation: Wayne State University/Karmanos Cancer Institute, 4100 John R, Detroit, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Hayley
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.affiliation: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Griggs
authors.affiliation: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gonzalez
authors.affiliation: Wayne State University/Karmanos Cancer Institute, 4100 John R, Detroit, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Berry-Bobovski
authors.affiliation: Wayne State University/Karmanos Cancer Institute, 4100 John R, Detroit, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Rifky
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tkatch
authors.affiliation: Wayne State University/Karmanos Cancer Institute, 4100 John R, Detroit, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Simon
authors.affiliation: Wayne State University/Karmanos Cancer Institute, 4100 John R, Detroit, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shields
authors.affiliation: Wayne State University/Karmanos Cancer Institute, 4100 John R, Detroit, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Shirish
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gadgeel
authors.affiliation: Henry Ford Hospital/Josephine Ford Cancer Institute, Detroit, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Randa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Loutfi
authors.affiliation: Henry Ford Hospital/Josephine Ford Cancer Institute, Detroit, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Haythem
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.affiliation: Henry Ford Hospital/Josephine Ford Cancer Institute, Detroit, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Ira
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Wollner
authors.affiliation: Wayne State University/Karmanos Cancer Institute, 4100 John R, Detroit, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Louis A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Penner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D054625:Healthcare Disparities; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008824:Michigan; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D000072103:Oncologists; D010174:Pamphlets; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010358:Patient Participation; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D035502:Trust
keywords: Health disparities; Oncology; Patient-physician communication