ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE
We evaluated the association between physicians’ communication behavior and breast cancer patients’ trust in their physicians.
DESIGN
Longitudinal survey conducted at baseline, 2-month, and 5-month follow-up during first year of diagnosis.
PARTICIPANTS
Newly diagnosed breast cancer patients (N = 246).
MEASUREMENTS
We collected data on patient perceptions of the helpfulness of informational, emotional, and decision-making support provided by physicians and patients’ trust. Linear regression models evaluated the association of concurrent and prior levels of physician support with patients’ trust.
RESULTS
At baseline, patients who received helpful informational, emotional, and decision-making support from physicians reported greater trust (p < 0.05, p < 0.001, and p < 0.01, respectively). At the 2-month assessment, baseline informational support and informational and emotional support at 2-months were associated with greater trust (p < 0.05, p < 0.01, and p < 0.05, respectively). At the 5-month assessment, only helpful emotional support from physicians at 5 months was associated with greater trust (p < 0.01). Interestingly, while perceived helpfulness of all three types of physician support decreased significantly over time, patient trust remained high and unchanged.
CONCLUSIONS
Findings suggest that while informational and decision-making support may be more important to patient trust early in the course of treatment, emotional support from physicians may be important to maintain trust throughout the initial year of diagnosis.
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Acknowledgments
Preliminary findings were presented at the International Conference on Communication in Healthcare in Basel, Switzerland, October 5–8, 2006. This paper contains Dr. Arora’s personal opinions and does not represent any official position of the National Cancer Institute. Data for the study were collected while Dr. Arora was employed by the University of Wisconsin, Madison.
Funding
This research was supported by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and the National Cancer Institute under grant no. 5R01HD32922: PI: David H. Gustafson.
Conflict of Interest
None disclosed.
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Arora, N.K., Gustafson, D.H. Perceived Helpfulness of Physicians’ Communication Behavior and Breast Cancer Patients’ Level of Trust Over Time. J GEN INTERN MED 24, 252–255 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-008-0880-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-008-0880-x