Qualitative Erfassung von Patientenpräferenzen und Behandlereinstellungen zur Patient-Behandler-Kommunikation: Eine Fokusgruppen-Studie

Objectives: Successful patient-provider communication is characterized by a high level of congruence between the patient's communication preferences and the provider's interaction style and is associated with better treatment results.

In this study, a qualitative approach was used to identify relevant aspects of successful patient-provider communication from the patients’ as well as the providers’ viewpoints. (1) What expectations do patients have of communication with different providers? (2) Are there differences among the preferences of patients with varying clinical indications and (3) how great is congruence with the providers¡¯ attitudes about communication?

Methods: 57 patients (30 with chronic back pain and 27 with chronic ischemic heart disease) and 50 providers (17 physicians, 11 nurses, and 22 therapists) were questioned about relevant aspects of patient-provider communication. The recorded focus groups were transcribed and subjected to a qualitative content analysis in a multi-stage process using the ATLAS.ti software.

Results: A total of 38 categories of patient preferences were identified which showed both indication-specific and provider-specific communication preferences. The most frequently named patient preferences were related to “providing information”, answering “patients’ questions”, and “taking enough time”.

28 (73.7%) of the preferences identified in the patient focus groups were also mentioned by the providers; however, the providers sometimes indicated other priorities.

Conclusion: The results show not only what patients consider especially important when communicating with their providers, but also that patient preferences can differ depending on the provider or indication. Not all aspects of communication considered important by patients are also named by providers. This underlines the importance of an individual assessment of patient preferences that enables providers to adopt patient-centered communication behavior.