The effects of patient communication skills training on compliance

To examine the relationship between communication skills training for patients and their compliance with recommended treatment.

A randomized control design was used, with patients nested within physicians. Each physician was audiotaped with 6 patients, 2 patients in each of the 3 intervention conditions: (1) a trained group (n = 50) received a training booklet in the mail 2 to 3 days prior to the scheduled appointment, (2) an informed group (n = 49) received a brief written summary of the major points contained in the training booklet while in the waiting room prior to the scheduled appointment, and (3) an untrained group (n = 51) did not receive any form of communication skills intervention.

Participants included physicians and patients from 9 different primary care, family practice locations. Two locations were clinics associated with a large, university-based medical school and hospital, while 7 were private practice offices in the community.

The sample included 25 family physicians (averaging 11 years postresidency) and 150 patients. Patients were randomly selected from appointment records and randomly assigned to 1 of 3 intervention conditions.

A training booklet designed to instruct patients in information seeking, provision, and verification.

Patients' compliance with medications, behavioral treatment (e.g., diet, exercise, smoking cessation), and/or follow-up appointments and referrals.

Trained patients were more compliant overall than untrained or informed patients. Training positively influenced compliance with behavioral treatments and follow-up appointments and referrals.

Training patients in communication skills may be a cost-effective way of increasing compliance and improving the overall health of patients.