Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 3, 2026

A Novel Method for Involving Women of Color at High Risk for Preterm Birth in Research Priority Setting
Published on: January 12, 2018
Patient-Centered Communication and Racial-Ethnic-Cultural Belonging Among United States Adults
M Tim Song1,2, Emma P Keane1, Isabella S Larizza1
1Department of Psychiatry, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
Background:
High-quality patient-centered communication (PCC) is associated with improved health outcomes. However, individuals from underrepresented racial/ethnic communities in the U.S. often experience poor PCC and disproportionately worse health outcomes compared to White individuals. Racial-ethnic-cultural (REC) belonging, defined as a sense of connection to one's REC group that fosters feelings of value, acceptance, and security, represents an understudied aspect of community-based social support. Unlike related constructs like patient-provider racial concordance, REC belonging emphasizes individuals' lived experiences of inclusion and may play an important role in moderating PCC, which functions as clinical social support.
Objective:
To examine potential associations between PCC and REC belonging and explore how REC belonging varies across sociodemographic factors.
Design:
Cross-sectional analysis of self-reported data from the National Cancer Institute's Health Information National Trends Survey 7 (HINTS 7), a nationally representative survey of U.S. adults. Descriptive statistics identified sociodemographic patterns in REC belonging. Logistic regressions further explored differences in REC belonging across race/ethnicity. Linear regressions examined associations between REC belonging and PCC.
Participants:
Respondents to HINTS 7 who reported visiting a healthcare clinician within the 12 months prior to survey completion (n = 5023).
Main Measures:
PCC was assessed using the 7-item Patient-Centered Communication Scale (PCCS). REC belonging was assessed through agreement with a statement regarding a strong sense of belonging to one's ethnic, racial, or cultural group, with responses categorized as "belonging" or "non-belonging."
Key Results:
Greater REC belonging was observed among non-White Hispanic (p < 0.001), heterosexual (p = 0.004), older (75+) (p = 0.006), non-liberal (p < 0.001), and non-married (p = 0.04) individuals. REC belonging was also significantly associated with higher PCC overall (β, 95% CI 4.97, 2.63-7.31).
Conclusions:
Results showed an association between higher PCC and REC belonging. Understanding sociodemographic differences in REC belonging may guide community-based strategies to enhance communication, strengthen social support, and improve health outcomes in underrepresented communities.
Related Concept Videos
Surveys
Patient-centered Care
Ethnic Identity within a Larger Culture
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...
Relationship Formation
Communication
Within...
