Patient Willingness to Communicate: Do Perceptions of Care and Compassion Matter?

• In Event: ICA Plenary Interactive Paper/Poster Session III
  In Interactive Paper Session: Health Communication Interactive Poster Session

Abstract

The current study tested the Linguistic Model of Patient Participation in Care (LMOPPC) and the Willingness to Communicate (WTC) model. One-hundred and three participants recruited from local medical clinics completed a survey that measured LMOPPC and WTC variables, satisfaction with the consultation and demographic information. Bivariate correlations revealed that patients who perceived their doctors to be more caring and compassionate were more willing to communicate during the consultation. Patient participation was positively associated with satisfaction with care. However, satisfaction with care was not associated with treatment adherence. Only perception of care and compassion and knowledge of health concern uniquely explained significant amounts of variance in patient participation (47% and 2% respectively). Patients who perceived their doctor to be more caring and compassionate, and who had less knowledge of their health concern were more likely to participate in the consultation.

Authors

• Collette Morris, U of Queensland

• Bernadette M Watson, U of Queensland

• Susan C. Baker, Saint Francis Xavier U