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The Effect of Patient–Provider Communication on Medication Adherence in Hypertensive Black Patients: Does Race Concordance Matter?

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Annals of Behavioral Medicine

Abstract

Background

Despite evidence of a positive effect of collaborative patient–provider communication on patient outcomes, our understanding of this relationship is unclear.

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to determine whether racial composition of the relationship modified the association between ratings of provider communication and medication adherence.

Methods

Effect modification of the communication–adherence association, by racial composition of the relationship, was evaluated using general linear mixed models while adjusting for selected covariates.

Results

Three hundred ninety patients were in race-concordant (black patient, black provider) relationships, while 207 were in race-discordant (black patient, white provider) relationships. The communication–adherence association was significantly modified in race-discordant relationships (p = 0.04). Communication rated as more collaborative in race-discordant relationships was associated with better adherence, while communication rated as less collaborative was associated with poor adherence. There was no significant association between adherence and communication in race-concordant relationships (p = 0.24).

Conclusions

Collaborative patient–provider communication may play an influential role in black patients’ adherence behaviors when receiving care from white providers.

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Acknowledgments

We gratefully acknowledge Johnathan N. Tobin PhD, Marleny Diaz-Gloster MPH, Andrea Cassells MPH, and Chamanara Khalida MD (Clinical Directors Network) for all of their help with project and data management.

Funding/Support

This study was supported by F31 HL081926-01, K23 HL 098564-01 and R01 HL 078566, and from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors have no conflict of interest to disclose.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Healthful Behavior Change, Department of Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA

    Antoinette Schoenthaler Ed.D. & Gbenga Ogedegbe M.D., M.P.H., FACP

  2. Department of Health & Behavior Studies, Teachers College, and Department of Sociomedical Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10027, USA

    John P. Allegrante Ph.D.

  3. Department of Psychology, St. John’s University, Queens, NY, 11439, USA

    William Chaplin Ph.D.

  4. Center for Healthful Behavior Change, Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, 227 East 30th Street, 634, New York, NY, 10016, USA

    Antoinette Schoenthaler Ed.D.

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  1. Antoinette Schoenthaler Ed.D.
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  2. John P. Allegrante Ph.D.
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  3. William Chaplin Ph.D.
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  4. Gbenga Ogedegbe M.D., M.P.H., FACP
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Correspondence to Antoinette Schoenthaler Ed.D..

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Schoenthaler, A., Allegrante, J.P., Chaplin, W. et al. The Effect of Patient–Provider Communication on Medication Adherence in Hypertensive Black Patients: Does Race Concordance Matter?. ann. behav. med. 43, 372–382 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12160-011-9342-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12160-011-9342-5

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