Perceptions of Patient-Provider Communication Across the Six Largest Asian Subgroups in the USA

A Comparison of Palliative Care Delivery between Ethnically Chinese and Non-Chinese Canadians in the Last Year of Life

BACKGROUND

Ethnically Chinese adults in Canada and the United States face multiple barriers in accessing equitable, culturally respectful care at the end-of-life. Palliative care (PC) is committed to supporting patients and families in achieving goal-concordant, high-quality serious illness care. Yet, current PC delivery may be culturally misaligned. Therefore, understanding ethnically Chinese patients' use of palliative care may uncover modifiable factors to sustained inequities at the end-of-life.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the use and delivery of PC in the last year of life between ethnically Chinese and non-Chinese adults.

DESIGN

Population-based cohort study.

PARTICIPANTS

All Ontario adults who died between January 1st, 2012, and October 31st, 2022, in Ontario, Canada.

EXPOSURES

Chinese ethnicity.

MAIN MEASURES

Elements of physician-delivered PC, including model of care (generalist; specialist; mixed), timing and location of initiation, and type of palliative care physician at initial consultation.

KEY RESULTS

The final study cohort included 527,700 non-Chinese (50.8% female, 77.9 ± 13.0 mean age, 13.0% rural residence) and 13,587 ethnically Chinese (50.8% female, 79.2 ± 13.6 mean age, 0.6% rural residence) adults. Chinese ethnicity was associated with higher likelihoods of using specialist (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.53, 95%CI 1.46-1.60) and mixed (aOR 1.32, 95%CI 1.26-1.38) over generalist models of PC, compared to non-Chinese patients. Chinese ethnicity was also associated with a higher likelihood of PC initiation in the last 30 days of life (aOR 1.07, 95%CI 1.03-1.11), in the hospital setting (aOR 1.24, 95%CI 1.18-1.30), and by specialist PC physicians (aOR 1.33, 95%CI 1.28-1.38).

CONCLUSIONS

Chinese ethnicity was associated with a higher likelihood of mixed and specialist models of PC delivery in the last year of life compared to adults who were non-Chinese. These observed differences may be due to later initiation of PC in hospital settings, and potential differences in unmeasured needs that suggest opportunities to initiate early, community-based PC to support ethnically Chinese patients with serious illness.

Using Structural Equation Modelling to Explore the Relationship Between Patient-Centered Communication, Human Papilloma (HPV)-related Knowledge, and Perceived Effectiveness of the HPV Vaccine

BACKGROUND

Patient-centered communication has emerged as a potent strategy for increasing vaccine uptake. Drawing on evidence-based paths established from previous studies, our study examines the relationship between patient-centered communication, HPV knowledge and perceived HPV vaccine effectiveness. We also explored the sociodemographic factors impacting patient-centered communication, HPV knowledge and perceived HPV vaccine effectiveness.

METHODS

We analyzed data from the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) 5, Cycle 1, ran Structural equation modeling (SEM) to test the pathways in our conceptual framework.

RESULTS

Our sample comprised 2522 adults aged 18-79 (mean age 47.98 years) who were predominantly Non-Hispanic White (67.65%), female (53.31%), and heterosexual (95.12%). The model fit statistics for the final structural model indicated a good fit [RMSEA= 0.039, CFI=0.99 TLI= 0.99, and SRMR =0.070]. The path linking patient-centered communication to HPV knowledge (β=0.011, p<0.05), and the knowledge-mediated path linking patient-centered communication to HPV vaccine effectiveness (β=0.007, p<0.05) were found to be statistically significant.

CONCLUSION

HPV researchers must delve deeper into patient-centered communication practices to improve vaccine uptake. Tailoring conversations to individual needs and preferences is key to enhancing HPV knowledge, and ultimately improve perceptions of HPV vaccine effectiveness and increase its acceptability.

Patients' perceptions of patient-centered communication with healthcare providers and associated factors in Japan - The INFORM Study 2020

OBJECTIVE

To describe patients' perceptions of the patient-centeredness of their communication with healthcare providers in Japan, and to examine factors associated with these perceptions.

METHODS

We analyzed the cross-sectional data from the INFORM Study 2020, which is a nationwide survey on health information access in Japan. A total of 3605 respondents completed the survey. Our primary outcome was the nine elements of the patient-centered communication scale (PCCS), which was compiled from 2703 respondents (75.0%) reporting at least one provider visit within 12 months. It was rated on a four-point Likert scale: always, usually, sometimes, and never. We used binary logistic regression to examine the association between sociodemographic and health-related variables, and each element of the PCCS.

RESULTS

For all elements, the percentage of respondents who agreed that their healthcare providers always communicated in a patient-centered way was low (17-31%). Patients with higher age, higher education, poorer general health status and a larger number of visits to providers in the previous 12 months were more likely to have positive perception.

CONCLUSION

Patient-centered communication as reported in a national sample in Japan was low.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

Efforts are needed to improve the patient-centeredness of patient-provider communication in Japan to optimize health outcomes.

Mediational roles of stress-coping factors in the relationship between patient-perceived communication quality and physical functioning: racial difference between Chinese and Non-Hispanic White American breast cancer survivors

PURPOSE

The assumption that patient-provider communication may mediate patients' sense of control over cancer to affect health outcomes has limited evidence. This study examines whether patient-perceived cancer care communication quality (PPCQ) mediates stress appraisal and coping behavior, affecting physical functioning across different racial groups.

METHODS

Two hundred and twenty Chinese American and 216 non-Hispanic White (NHW) women (ages 28-80) with stage 0-III breast cancer, 1-5 years post-diagnosis, and without recurrence, enrolled and completed a cross-sectional telephone survey. Physical functioning was measured by the NIH-PROMIS short form. Validated measures of PPCQ, patients' evaluation of their socioeconomic well-being, stress appraisal (perceived severity and control), use of coping strategies, treatment-related symptoms, and comorbidities were also assessed. Path analyses were used to examine the mediation for each racial group.

RESULTS

Regardless of race, treatment-related symptoms, comorbidities, and socioeconomic well-being were all directly related to physical functioning (p < 0.05). The impact of PPCQ on physical functioning was mediated by perceived control in the Chinese American group (p < 0.05), but not in the NHW group. Perceived severity and coping were not mediators of physical functioning in either group.

CONCLUSIONS

The mediational pathway from PPCQ to perceived control to physical functioning in Chinese American survivors may be partially explained by their lower socioeconomic well-being and culturally valued conformity to physicians as a medical authority. These sociocultural dynamics reinforce the importance of cancer care communication. For NHW survivors, the impact of treatment-related symptoms and socioeconomic well-being on physical functioning outweighed their PPCQ and perceived control.

Differences in racial/ethnic disparities in patient care experiences between prostate cancer survivors and males without cancer: A SEER-CAHPS study

INTRODUCTION

Our purpose was to evaluate whether racial/ethnic disparities in patient care experiences (PCEs) differ between males with prostate cancer ("PCa group") and males without cancer ("non-cancer group").

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This retrospective study used 2007-2015 National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results registry data linked to Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems surveys. PCa and non-cancer groups were propensity score matched 1:5 on demographic and clinical characteristics. Differences in racial/ethnic disparities (DRD) (non-Hispanic Black [NHB], Hispanic, non-Hispanic Asian [NHA], and Other Races compared to non-Hispanic White [NHW]) in PCEs (getting needed care, getting care quickly, doctor communication, customer service, and getting needed prescription drugs) were compared between matched PCa and non-cancer groups. Per prior literature, DRD in PCE scores were categorized as small (<3), medium (≥3 but <5) or large (≥5).

RESULTS

There were 7312 males in the PCa group and 36,559 matched males in the non-cancer group. Within each group, all racial/ethnic minority categories reported worse scores compared to NHW individuals (p < 0.05) for ≥3 PCE composite measures. Compared to PCa group, a larger NHA-NHW difference was observed in non-cancer group for getting needed care (-4.65 in PCa vs. -7.77 in non-cancer; DRD = 3.11, p = 0.029) and doctor communication (-2.46 in PCa vs. -4.85 in non-cancer; DRD = 2.38, p = 0.023).

DISCUSSION

In both PCa and non-cancer groups, racial/ethnic minorities reported worse experiences compared to NHW individuals for several PCE measures. However, the difference in getting needed care and doctor communication between NHA and NHW individuals were more pronounced in non-cancer group than PCa group.

US Older Adults with Multiple Chronic Conditions Perceptions of Provider-Patient Communication: Trends and Racial Disparities from MEPS 2013-2019

BACKGROUND

Multiple chronic conditions (MCC) require complex patient-centered approaches with effective provider-patient communication.

OBJECTIVE

To describe trends in patient perceptions of provider-patient communication during non-emergency care and identify associated racial disparities in US older adults with MCC.

DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS

Observational study using pooled US Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (2013-2019) data included adults > 65 with two or more chronic conditions.

MAIN MEASURES

Provider-patient communication was measured by four indicators (how often their doctor explained things clearly, listened carefully, showed respect, and spent enough time with them). The primary outcomes were the annual rates of reporting "always" for the communication indicators. Cochran-Armitage trend tests examined the trends of reporting "always" and associated racial disparities. Multivariable logistic regression identified racial and other factors associated with respondents choosing "always" for one or more categories for provider-patient communication, defined as positive communication.

RESULTS

Among 9758 older adults with MCC, declining trends for positive communication were shown across all provider-patient communication categories during 2013 to 2019 (p<0.001). The greatest decrease occurred in "always listening carefully", from 68.6% in 2013 to 59.1% in 2019 (p<0.001). The declining trends of four communication measures in non-Hispanic Whites with MCC were significant (p<0.001). Older adults from Hispanic or Non-Hispanic Black racial backgrounds were 28 to 51% more likely to report "always" for the four indicators of provider-patient communication than non-Hispanic Whites after adjusting for respondents' characteristics.

CONCLUSION

The rates of "always" reporting positive communication with providers significantly declined from 2013 to 2019 in older adults with MCC, particularly in non-Hispanic Whites. Hispanics and non-Hispanic Blacks were more likely to report positive communication with providers than other races.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination among a national sample of United States adults ages 18-45: A cross-sectional study

To assess how the COVID-19 pandemic affected catch-up HPV vaccination among age-eligible adults (ages 18-45). The current study leverages a national, cross-sectional sample of US adults ages 18-45 years to assess the prevalence and determinants of COVID-19 pandemic-related disruptions to catch-up HPV vaccination in 2021. The sample was restricted to adults intending to receive the HPV vaccine. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was conducted to assess the probability of 1) pandemic-related HPV vaccination disruption and 2) uncertainty about pandemic-related HPV vaccination disruption. Report of 'no pandemic-related HPV vaccination disruption' served as the reference category. Among adults intending to get the HPV vaccine (n = 1,683), 8.6 % reported pandemic-related HPV vaccination disruption, 14.7 % reported uncertainty about vaccination disruption, and 76.7 % reported no disruption. Factors associated with higher odds of pandemic-related vaccination disruption included non-English language preference (OR: 3.20; 95 % CI: 1.99-5.13), being a parent/guardian (OR: 1.77; 95 % CI: 1.18-2.66), having at least one healthcare visit in the past year (OR: 1.97; 95 % CI: 1.10-3.53), being up-to-date on the tetanus vaccine (OR: 1.81; 95 % CI: 1.19-2.75), and being a cancer survivor (OR: 2.57; 95 % CI: 1.52-4.34). Catch-up HPV vaccination for age-eligible adults is a critical public health strategy for reducing HPV-related cancers. While a small percentage of adults reported pandemic-related disruptions to HPV vaccination, certain adults (e.g., individuals with a non-English language preference and cancer survivors) were more likely to report a disruption. Interventions may be needed that increase accessibility of catch-up HPV vaccination among populations with reduced healthcare access during the pandemic.