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The value of physicians' affect-oriented communication for patients' recall of information
Leonie N C Visser1, Marieke S Tollenaar2, Hanneke C J M de Haes1
1Department of Medical Psychology, Academic Medical Center/University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Objective:
The aim of this paper is to discuss experimental research investigating the effect of physicians' affect-oriented communication on patients' recall of information provided during medical consultations, with a special focus on the mediating role of emotional stress in that relation.
Methods & Results:
A search of experimental research literature was conducted, resulting in six research articles experimentally investigating the relations of interest, all using a video-vignettes design. A summary of results is provided and discussed.
Conclusions:
The research reviewed in this paper provides evidence for the causal and mostly positive influence of several forms of affect-oriented communication on patients' recall of medical information. Results indicate that reducing emotional stress may not be the underlying mechanism through which physicians' communication influences patients' recall.
Practice Implications:
The obtained insights will help educators to teach evidence-based medical communication skills and to scientifically validate the importance of these skills for patients' recall of information. Advancing physicians' communication skills with evidence-based training will contribute to the professionalism that is the hallmark of good quality of care.
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