Disparities in surgical care: strategies for enhancing provider-patient communication
Judyann Bigby1, Stanley W Ashley
1Executive Office of Health and Human Services, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, One Ashburton Place, 11th Floor, Boston, Massachusetts 02108, USA.
Abstract:
Patient-provider communication is critical to eliminating disparities in healthcare. Both the patient and the physician bring a variety of assumptions to the therapeutic partnership. As illustrated in a surgical case, these are based not only on race and ethnicity but also on a host of other factors, which may affect both partners' perceptions of reality and their subsequent behavior. Communication is an essential component of quality and is necessary to improve patients' understanding of the content of their care, their ability to make informed choices, and their ability to adhere to recommended therapies. There are a variety of practical strategies to enhance awareness of these issues and improve communication that we need to begin to incorporate into surgical culture.
Related Concept Videos
Barriers to Effective Communication II
Cultural barriers:
Differences in values, beliefs, religion, knowledge, and tradition can significantly impact communication. Awareness of nonverbal cues is critical, especially when conversing with a patient from a different culture. What appears appropriate in one culture may be inappropriate in another.
Semantic barriers:
As a result of their tendency to use...
SBAR I: Understanding the Concept
Standardized methods of communication have been developed to ensure that information is...
Techniques of Therapeutic Communication II: Focusing, Paraphrasing, and Summarizing
This therapeutic technique can also be used when a patient brings up pertinent information during a health-related conversation. The...
Methods of Documentation VI: Case Management Model
For example, a patient with a chronic illness...
Role of Communication in the Nursing Process II: Planning and Implementation
Patient-centered Care

