Randomized trial of a question prompt list to increase patient active participation during interactions with black patients and their oncologists

Examining Linguistic Differences in Electronic Health Records for Diverse Patients With Diabetes: Natural Language Processing Analysis

Background

Individuals from minoritized racial and ethnic backgrounds experience pernicious and pervasive health disparities that have emerged, in part, from clinician bias.

Objective

We used a natural language processing approach to examine whether linguistic markers in electronic health record (EHR) notes differ based on the race and ethnicity of the patient. To validate this methodological approach, we also assessed the extent to which clinicians perceive linguistic markers to be indicative of bias.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study, we extracted EHR notes for patients who were aged 18 years or older; had more than 5 years of diabetes diagnosis codes; and received care between 2006 and 2014 from family physicians, general internists, or endocrinologists practicing in an urban, academic network of clinics. The race and ethnicity of patients were defined as White non-Hispanic, Black non-Hispanic, or Hispanic or Latino. We hypothesized that Sentiment Analysis and Social Cognition Engine (SEANCE) components (ie, negative adjectives, positive adjectives, joy words, fear and disgust words, politics words, respect words, trust verbs, and well-being words) and mean word count would be indicators of bias if racial differences emerged. We performed linear mixed effects analyses to examine the relationship between the outcomes of interest (the SEANCE components and word count) and patient race and ethnicity, controlling for patient age. To validate this approach, we asked clinicians to indicate the extent to which they thought variation in the use of SEANCE language domains for different racial and ethnic groups was reflective of bias in EHR notes.

Results

We examined EHR notes (n=12,905) of Black non-Hispanic, White non-Hispanic, and Hispanic or Latino patients (n=1562), who were seen by 281 physicians. A total of 27 clinicians participated in the validation study. In terms of bias, participants rated negative adjectives as 8.63 (SD 2.06), fear and disgust words as 8.11 (SD 2.15), and positive adjectives as 7.93 (SD 2.46) on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being extremely indicative of bias. Notes for Black non-Hispanic patients contained significantly more negative adjectives (coefficient 0.07, SE 0.02) and significantly more fear and disgust words (coefficient 0.007, SE 0.002) than those for White non-Hispanic patients. The notes for Hispanic or Latino patients included significantly fewer positive adjectives (coefficient -0.02, SE 0.007), trust verbs (coefficient -0.009, SE 0.004), and joy words (coefficient -0.03, SE 0.01) than those for White non-Hispanic patients.

Conclusions

This approach may enable physicians and researchers to identify and mitigate bias in medical interactions, with the goal of reducing health disparities stemming from bias.

Strategies for increasing accrual in cancer clinical trials: What is the evidence?

INTRODUCTION

Despite the importance of clinical trial participation among cancer patients, few participate-and even fewer patients from ethnic and racial minoritized groups. It is unclear whether suggested approaches to increase accrual are successful. We conducted a scoping review to identify evidence-based approaches to increase participation in cancer treatment clinical trials that demonstrated clear increases in accrual. Notably, more stringent than other published reviews, only those studies with comparison data to measure a difference in accrual rates were included.

METHODS

We searched PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, and Web of Science for English-language articles published from January 1, 2012, to August 8, 2022. Studies were included if they were conducted in the United States, described single or multicomponent interventions, and provided data to measure accrual relative to baseline levels or that compared accrual rates with other interventions.

RESULTS

Sixteen articles were included: six with interventions addressing patient barriers, two addressing provider barriers, seven describing institutional change, and one describing policy change. Key themes emerged, such as a focus on patient education, cultural competency, and building the capacity of clinics. Few studies provide comparative accrual data, making it difficult to identify with certainty any effective, evidence-based approaches for increasing accrual. Some patient- and system-level interventions studies showed modest increases in accrual primarily through pre-post measurement.

CONCLUSION

Despite an extensive body of literature about the barriers that impede cancer treatment trial accrual, along with numerous recommendations for how to overcome these barriers, results reveal surprisingly little evidence published in the last 10 years on interventions that increase accrual relative to baseline levels or compared with other interventions. As clinical trials are a primary vehicle through which we improve cancer care, it is critical that evidence-based approaches are used to inform all efforts to increase accrual. Strategies for increasing participation in cancer clinical trials must be developed and rigorously evaluated so that these strategies can be disseminated, participation in trials can increase and become more equitable, and trial results can become more generalizable.

Exploring Foreign Domestic Workers' Perceived Contextual Factors That Influence Their Participation in Medical Consultations: An Ecological Lens

Foreign domestic workers have reported various health problems after moving to Hong Kong, which suggests the need for them to seek medical attention. Yet, much uncertainty exists about their perception of healthcare experiences as patients, particularly how they perceive their communication with ethnic-discordant healthcare providers. Drawing on foreign domestic workers' perspectives, we extracted non-interpersonal factors from Street's ecological model and its extension proposed by Head and Bute (2018) and examined how foreign domestic workers perceived these contextual factors affected their communication with healthcare providers. Thematic analysis was conducted on thirty Filipina and Indonesian domestic workers' narratives. Our findings confirmed that the context of digital media (characterized by Internet use and the adoption of a telemedicine approach) and the context of social ties (characterized by employers' involvement and everyday communication with friends and peers) were both potential contextual factors that domestic workers reported accounted for their participation in medical encounters. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed. Future research building on these findings is proposed.

Identifying, Understanding, and Addressing Disparities in Glaucoma Care in the United States

Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide, currently affecting around 80 million people. Glaucoma prevalence is rapidly rising in the United States due to an aging population. Despite recent advances in the diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma, significant disparities persist in disease detection, management, and outcomes among the diverse patient populations of the United States. Research on disparities is critical to identifying, understanding, and addressing societal and healthcare inequalities. Disparities research is especially important and impactful in the context of irreversible diseases such as glaucoma, where earlier detection and intervention are the primary approach to improving patient outcomes. In this article, we first review recent studies identifying disparities in glaucoma care that affect patient populations based on race, age, and gender. We then review studies elucidating and furthering our understanding of modifiable factors that contribute to these inequities, including socioeconomic status (particularly age and education), insurance product, and geographic region. Finally, we present work proposing potential strategies addressing disparities in glaucoma care, including teleophthalmology and artificial intelligence. We also discuss the presence of non-modifiable factors that contribute to differences in glaucoma burden and can confound the detection of glaucoma disparities.

Translational Relevance

By recognizing underlying causes and proposing potential solutions, healthcare providers, policymakers, and other stakeholders can work collaboratively to reduce the burden of glaucoma and improve visual health and clinical outcomes in vulnerable patient populations.

Optimizing the design and implementation of question prompt lists to support person-centred care: A scoping review

INTRODUCTION

Question prompt lists (QPLs) are lists of questions that patients may want to discuss with clinicians. QPLs support person-centred care and have been associated with many beneficial outcomes including improved patient question-asking, and the amount and quality of the information provided by clinicians. The purpose of this study was to review published research on QPLs to explore how QPL design and implementation can be optimized.

METHODS

We performed a scoping review by searching MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, CINAHL, Cochrane Library and Joanna Briggs Database from inception to 8 May 2022, for English language studies of any design that evaluated QPLs. We used summary statistics and text to report study characteristics, and QPL design and implementation.

RESULTS

We included 57 studies published from 1988 to 2022 by authors in 12 countries on a range of clinical topics. Of those, 56% provided the QPL, but few described how QPLs were developed. The number of questions varied widely (range 9-191). Most QPLs were single-page handouts (44%) but others ranged from 2 to 33 pages. Most studies implemented a QPL alone with no other accompanying strategy; most often in a print format before consultations by mail (18%) or in the waiting room (66%). Both patients and clinicians identified numerous benefits to patients of QPLs (e.g., increased patient confidence to ask questions, and patient satisfaction with communication or care received; and reduced anxiety about health status or treatment). To support use, patients desired access to QPLs in advance of clinician visits, and clinicians desired information/training on how to use the QPL and answer questions. Most (88%) studies reported at least one beneficial impact of QPLs. This was true even for single-page QPLs with few questions unaccompanied by other implementation strategies. Despite favourable views of QPLs, few studies assessed outcomes amongst clinicians.

CONCLUSION

This review identified QPL characteristics and implementation strategies that may be associated with beneficial outcomes. Future research should confirm these findings via systematic review and explore the benefits of QPLs from the clinician's perspective.

PATIENT/PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION

Following this review, we used the findings to develop a QPL on hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and interviewed women and clinicians about QPL design including content, format, enablers and barriers of use, and potential outcomes including beneficial impacts and possible harms (will be published elsewhere).

Ask questions (ASQ): Implementation of a question prompt list communication intervention in a network of outpatient medical oncology clinics

OBJECTIVE

This descriptive, single-arm study assessed the implementation and patient perceptions of an evidence-based Question Prompt List (QPL), the ASQ brochure, across a network of oncology clinics in a diverse patient population.

METHOD

The QPL was revised in collaboration with stakeholders. Implementation was assessed using the RE-AIM framework. Eligible patients were scheduled for a first appointment with an oncologist at any of eight participating clinics. All participants received the ASQ brochure and completed three surveys: one at baseline, one immediately before, and one following their appointment. Surveys assessed sociodemographic characteristics; communication-related outcomes (perceived knowledge, self-efficacy in interacting with physicians, trust in physicians, distress); and perceptions of the ASQ brochure. Analyses included descriptive statistics and linear mixed-effects models.

RESULTS

Reach: Participants (n = 81) represented the diverse population served by the clinic network.

EFFICACY

All outcomes improved significantly, with no significant differences by clinic site or patient race. Adoption: All eight invited clinics participated and recruited patients. Patient perceptions of the ASQ brochure were overwhelmingly positive.

CONCLUSION

Implementation of the ASQ brochure was successful in this oncology clinic network providing care to a diverse patient population.

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS

This evidence-based communication intervention can be implemented widely in similar medical contexts and populations.

Helpfulness of Question Prompt Sheet for Patient-Physician Communication Among Patients With Advanced Cancer: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Importance

There are few robust evaluations of disease-specific question prompt sheets (QPS) in patient-physician communication among patients with advanced cancer.

Objective

To compare the patient perception of helpfulness, global evaluation, and preference for the QPS vs a general information sheet (GIS), and to examine the effect of the QPS on participants' anxiety, participants' speaking time, number of questions asked, and length of the clinical encounter.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This controlled, double-blind randomized clinical trial was conducted at an outpatient palliative and supportive care clinic in a cancer center in the US. Eligible patients were 18 years or older, had a cancer diagnosis, and were undergoing their first outpatient consultation visit with a palliative care physician from September 1, 2017, to May 31, 2019. Data analysis used a modified intention-to-treat design. Data were analyzed from May 18 to June 27, 2022.

Intervention

QPS, a 25-item list of questions developed by expert palliative care clinicians using a Delphi process and tested among ambulatory advanced cancer patients. The control was GIS, generic information material given routinely to patients seen at the supportive care clinic.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The main outcome was patient perception of helpfulness. Secondary outcomes included global evaluation and preference of QPS compared with GIS immediately after the encounter.

Results

A total of 130 patients (mean [SD] age, 58.6 [13.3] years; 79 [60.8%] female) were randomized to receive either QPS (67 patients [51.5%]) or GIS (63 patients [48.5%]). Patients considered QPS and GIS equally helpful, with no statistically significant difference (mean [SD] helpfulness score, 7.2 [2.3] points vs 7.1 [2.7] points; P = .79). The QPS group, compared with the GIS group, had a higher global positive view of the material (mean [SD] global perception score, 7.1 [1.3] vs 6.5 [1.7]; P = .03) and felt it prompted them more to generate new questions (mean [SD] rating, 7.0 [2.9] vs 5.3 [3.5]; P = .005). Of 47 patients asked their preference between the items, more participants preferred the QPS to the GIS in communicating with their physicians (24 patients [51.1%] vs 7 patients [14.9%]; P = .01) at the 4-week follow-up. No significant differences between the QPS and GIS groups were observed regarding participant anxiety, speaking time, number of questions asked, or consultation length (eg, mean [SD] anxiety rating, 2.3 [3.7] vs 1.6 [2.7]; P = .19).

Conclusions and Relevance

In this randomized clinical trial, participants perceived both QPS and GIS as equally helpful, but they had a more positive global view of and preferred the QPS. QPS facilitated generation of new questions without increasing patient anxiety nor prolonging the consultation. The findings provide support for increased adoption and integration of QPS into routine oncologic care.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03287492.

Question prompt lists and caregiver question asking in pediatric specialty appointments: A randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVE

Question prompt lists (QPLs) have been effective at increasing patient involvement and question asking in medical appointments, which is critical for shared decision making. We investigated whether pre-visit preparation (PVP), including a QPL, would increase question asking among caregivers of pediatric patients with undiagnosed, suspected genetic conditions.

METHODS

Caregivers were randomized to receive the PVP before their appointment (n = 59) or not (control, n = 53). Appointments were audio-recorded. Transcripts were analyzed to determine questions asked.

RESULTS

Caregivers in the PVP group asked more questions (MeanPVP = 4.36, SDPVP = 4.66 vs. Meancontrol = 2.83, SDcontrol = 3.03, p = 0.045), including QPL questions (MeanPVP = 1.05, SDPVP = 1.39 vs. Meancontrol = 0.36, SDcontrol = 0.81, p = 0.002). Caregivers whose child had insurance other than Medicaid in the PVP group asked more total and QPL questions than their counterparts in the control group (ps = 0.005 and 0.002); there was no intervention effect among caregivers of children with Medicaid or no insurance (ps = 0.775 and 0.166).

CONCLUSION

The PVP increased question asking but worked less effectively among traditionally underserved groups. Additional interventions, including provider-focused efforts, may be needed to promote engagement of underserved patients.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Patient/family-focused interventions may not be beneficial for all populations. Providers should be aware of potential implicit and explicit biases and encourage question asking to promote patient/family engagement.

The Support, Educate, Empower personalized glaucoma coaching trial design

BACKGROUND

Glaucoma is a chronic disease that affects 3 million Americans. Glaucoma is most often asymptomatic until very late in its course when treatment is more difficult and extensive peripheral vision loss has already occurred. Taking daily medications can mitigate this vision loss, but at least half of people with glaucoma do not take their prescribed medications regularly. The purpose of this study is to improve glaucoma medication adherence among those with medically treated glaucoma and poor self-reported adherence using the Support, Educate, Empower personalized coaching program.

METHODS/DESIGN

This study is a two-site randomized controlled trial enrolling 230 participants with poor self-reported glaucoma medication adherence. The trial has two arms, an intervention arm and a control arm. Participants in the intervention arm receive personalized glaucoma education and motivational interviewing-based coaching over 6 months from a trained non-physician interventionist for three in-person sessions with between visit phone calls for check-ins where current adherence level is reported to participants. Participants also can elect to have visual, audio, text or automated phone call medication dose reminders. Participants in the control arm continue usual care with their physician and receive non-personalized glaucoma educational materials via mail in parallel to the three in-person coaching sessions to control for glaucoma knowledge content. All participants receive a medication adherence monitor. The primary outcome is the proportion of prescribed doses taken on schedule during the 6-month period. The secondary outcome is glaucoma related distress. The exploratory outcome is intraocular pressure.

DISCUSSION

The personalized education and motivational-interviewing-based intervention that we are testing is comprehensive in that it addresses the wide range of barriers to adherence that people with glaucoma encounter. Leveraging a custom-built web-based application to generate the personalized content and the motivational-interviewing-based prompts to guide the coaching sessions will make this program both replicable and scalable and can be integrated into clinical care utilizing trained non-physician providers. Although this type of self-management support is not currently reimbursed for glaucoma as it is for diabetes, this trial could help shape future policy change should the intervention be found effective.

Effects of a Patient Question Prompt List on Question Asking and Self-Efficacy During Outpatient Palliative Care Appointments

CONTEXT

Question prompt lists (QPLs) promote participation during medical appointments, including in the context of serious illness care. However, no studies have used parameters of a theoretical framework to examine the effects of QPL use in outpatient palliative care.

OBJECTIVES

The current pilot randomized controlled trial evaluated use of a 25-question QPL during initial outpatient palliative care appointments. We applied tenets of Self-Efficacy Theory to investigate how use of a QPL affected appointment participation and perceived self-efficacy.

METHODS

Participants were patients and care partners attending the patient's first palliative care appointment. Participants either received a QPL before the appointment (n = 29 appointments) or usual care (n = 30 appointments). Audio recordings of appointments were coded for total questions asked. Participants reported perceived self-efficacy in question asking pre- and postappointment. Analysis of variance was used to compare appointment participation between study conditions, and a linear mixed effects model was used to compare changes in ratings of perceived self-efficacy.

RESULTS

Participants who received the QPL did not ask significantly more questions compared to participants in usual-care appointments. There was a main effect of time on self-efficacy in question asking, such that self-efficacy increased from pre- to postappointment, but there was no effect of the intervention.

CONCLUSION

Despite their promise in previous studies, results of the current study suggest that QPLs may lack potency to shift patient and care partner question asking in palliative care appointments, and that other mechanisms outlined in Self-Efficacy Theory may characterize the relation between question asking and self-efficacy.

Provider implicit and explicit bias in person-centered maternity care: a cross-sectional study with maternity providers in Northern Ghana

BACKGROUND

Person-centered maternity care (PCMC) has become a priority in the global health discourse on quality of care due to the high prevalence of disrespectful and lack of responsive care during facility-based childbirth. Although PCMC is generally sub-optimal, there are significant disparities. On average, women of low socioeconomic status (SES) tend to receive poorer PCMC than women of higher SES. Yet few studies have explored factors underlying these inequities. In this study, we examined provider implicit and explicit biases that could lead to inequitable PCMC based on SES.

METHODS

Data are from a cross-sectional survey with 150 providers recruited from 19 health facilities in the Upper East region of Ghana from October 2020 to January 2021. Explicit SES bias was assessed using situationally-specific vignettes (low SES and high SES characteristics) on providers' perceptions of women's expectations, attitudes, and behaviors. Implicit SES bias was assessed using an Implicit Association Test (IAT) that measures associations between women's SES characteristics and providers' perceptions of women as 'difficult' or 'good'. Analysis included descriptive statistics, mixed-model ANOVA, and bivariate and multivariate linear regression.

RESULTS

The average explicit bias score was 18.1 out of 28 (SD = 3.60) for the low SES woman vignette and 16.9 out of 28 (SD = 3.15) for the high SES woman vignette (p < 0.001), suggesting stronger negative explicit bias towards the lower SES woman. These biases manifested in higher agreement to statements such as the low SES woman in the vignette is not likely to expect providers to introduce themselves and is not likely to understand explanations. The average IAT score was 0.71 (SD = 0.43), indicating a significant bias in associating positive characteristics with high SES women and negative characteristics with low SES women. Providers with higher education had significantly lower explicit bias scores on the low SES vignette than those with less education. Providers in private facilities had higher IAT scores than those in government hospitals.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings provide evidence of both implicit and explicit SES bias among maternity providers. These biases need to be addressed in interventions to achieve equity in PCMC and to improve PCMC for all women.

A Direct Patient-Provider Relationship With the Medical Physicist Reduces Anxiety in Patients Receiving Radiation Therapy

PURPOSE

The complex technological processes involved in radiation therapy can be intimidating to patients, causing increased treatment-related anxiety and reduced satisfaction. An intervention was implemented to provide direct consultations between patients and medical physicists to reduce patient anxiety and improve patient satisfaction. A randomized clinical trial was conducted to test the intervention's effect on anxiety, distress, treatment adherence, technical understanding, and satisfaction in patients receiving radiation therapy.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Eligible patients were recruited into "intervention" and "standard of care" arms within a phase 2 screening randomized trial. Intervention-arm patients met with a medical physicist who provided technical information and addressed patient questions or concerns at the time of treatment simulation and before the first treatment. In addition to baseline information collected before randomization, participants were surveyed (1) before simulation, (2) before the first treatment, and (3) before the completion of treatment to evaluate the study endpoints. Primary endpoints included patient anxiety and distress. Secondary endpoints included patient treatment adherence, overall satisfaction, and technical understanding of treatment. Patients in the intervention arm were surveyed before and after each physicist meeting.

RESULTS

Participant anxiety was significantly reduced in the intervention arm (difference, -0.29; 95% confidence interval, -0.57 to -0.02; P = .038). No differences in distress or treatment adherence were observed between groups. Although measures of technical understanding and satisfaction were evaluated as exploratory objectives, participants in the intervention group were more likely to feel that technical aspects of treatment were adequately explained (difference, 0.78; 95% confidence interval, 0.03-1.54), and all measures of technical understanding and satisfaction were considerably higher in the intervention group at the time of the first visit.

CONCLUSIONS

The establishment of a direct patient-provider relationship with the medical physicist reduced anxiety in patients receiving radiation therapy. In addition, increases in patient understanding of the technical aspects of care and in satisfaction were observed at the initiation of treatment.

Addressing multilevel barriers to clinical trial participation among Black and White men with prostate cancer through the PACCT study

BACKGROUND

Cancer clinical trial participation is low and inequitable. Partnering Around Cancer Clinical Trials (PACCT) addressed systemic and interpersonal barriers through an observational study of eligibility and an intervention to improve patient-physician communication and trial invitation rates.

METHODS

Physicians at two comprehensive cancer centers and Black and White men with prostate cancer participated. Patients were followed for 2 years to determine whether they became potentially eligible for an available therapeutic trial. Potentially eligible patients were randomized to receive a trials-focused Question Prompt List or usual care. Patient-physician interactions were video-recorded. Outcomes included communication quality and trial invitation rates. Descriptive analyses assessed associations between sociodemographic characteristics and eligibility and effects of the intervention on outcomes.

RESULTS

Only 44 (22.1%) of participating patients (n = 199) became potentially eligible for an available clinical trial. Patients with higher incomes were more often eligible (>$80,000 vs. <$40,000, adjusted OR = 6.06 [SD, 1.97]; $40,000-$79,000 vs. <$40,000, adjusted OR = 4.40 [SD, 1.81]). Among eligible patients randomized to the intervention (n = 19) or usual care (n = 25), Black patients randomized to the intervention reported participating more actively than usual care patients, while White intervention patients reported participating less actively (difference, 0.41 vs. -0.34). Intervention patients received more trial invitations than usual care patients (73.7% vs. 60.0%); this effect was greater for Black (80.0% vs. 30.0%) than White patients (80.0% vs. 66.7%).

CONCLUSIONS

Findings suggest the greatest enrollment barrier is eligibility for an available trial, but a communication intervention can improve communication quality and trial invitation rates, especially for eligible Black patients.

Developing a question prompt list for the oncology setting: A scoping review

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to provide an overview of existing methods used to develop a Question Prompt List (QPL) for an oncology setting.

METHODS

We conducted a search of the literature published between 1999 and 2019 in five online databases followed by a hand search, and extracted data on the methods used to develop a QPL.

RESULTS

A total of 21 studies were included. The review shows differences in the development of older QPLs (1999-2009) and current QPLs (2010-2019). However, most QPLs were developed using interviews or focus groups with patients and an expert session to review or adapt the QPL. Health professionals, patients, and researchers were included in nearly all the studies.

CONCLUSION

To develop a QPL, it is important to combine several information sources and at least to involve health professionals, patients, and researchers in the development process. Review or evaluation steps can improve the appropriateness and acceptance of a QPL.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Further research is needed to define the type of target population for new QPLs and to develop a framework for their development.

Developing an audio-based communication tool for NICU discharge of Latino families with limited English proficiency

OBJECTIVE

Research shows NICU Latino parents with limited English proficiency (LEP) feel less comfortable asking questions and participating in medical decision-making, which may negatively affect transition to community healthcare. Question prompt lists (QPL), suggested questions sometimes drawn from families and providers, can improve family-centered communication. We explored clinician and parent perceptions to inform development of and pilot a NICU discharge QPL.

METHODS

Focus groups with NICU and primary care providers explored perceived educational needs of Latino parents LEP and barriers to effective transition to community healthcare. Semi-structured interviews with Latino parents LEP explored perceptions of knowledge gaps and recommendations to improve the transition process. A Spanish audio QPL for parents and an English written version for providers were developed and pilot tested for acceptability.

RESULTS

Provider focus groups (n = 27) and parent interviews (n = 19) identified themes: decreased parent activation, knowledge gaps, limited-use interpreters, unfamiliarity with healthcare system, and social isolation as barriers to smooth NICU-to-home transition. Providers (n = 11) and parents (n = 10) favored QPL introduction early in NICU admission, finding it useful to improve communication and transition processes for families.

CONCLUSION

Our QPL may address challenges faced by Latino parents LEP when transitioning home.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

QPLs may improve Latino NICU infants' healthcare outcomes.

Are shared decision making studies well enough described to be replicated? Secondary analysis of a Cochrane systematic review

Background

Interventions to change health professionals’ behaviour are often difficult to replicate. Incomplete reporting is a key reason and a source of waste in health research. We aimed to assess the reporting of shared decision making (SDM) interventions.

Methods

We extracted data from a 2017 Cochrane systematic review whose aim was to determine the effectiveness of interventions to increase the use of SDM by healthcare professionals. In a secondary analysis, we used the 12 items of the Template for Intervention Description and Replication (TIDieR) checklist to analyze quantitative data. We used a conceptual framework for implementation fidelity to analyze qualitative data, which added details to various TIDieR items (e.g. under “what materials?” we also reported on ease of access to materials). We used SAS 9.4 for all analyses.

Results

Of the 87 studies included in the 2017 Cochrane review, 83 were randomized trials, three were non-randomized trials, and one was a controlled before-and-after study. Items most completely reported were: “brief name” (87/87, 100%), “why” (rationale) (86/87, 99%), and “what” (procedures) (81/87, 93%). The least completely reported items (under 50%) were “materials” (29/87, 33%), “who” (23/87, 26%), and “when and how much” (18/87, 21%), as well as the conditional items: “tailoring” (8/87, 9%), “modifications” (3/87, 4%), and “how well (actual)” (i.e. delivered as planned?) (3/87, 3%). Interventions targeting patients were better reported than those targeting health professionals or both patients and health professionals, e.g. 84% of patient-targeted intervention studies reported “How”, (delivery modes), vs. 67% for those targeting health professionals and 32% for those targeting both. We also reported qualitative analyses for most items. Overall reporting of items for all interventions was 41.5%.

Conclusions

Reporting on all groups or components of SDM interventions was incomplete in most SDM studies published up to 2017. Our results provide guidance for authors on what elements need better reporting to improve the replicability of their SDM interventions.

Helping Patients Communicate With Oncologists When Cancer Treatment Resistance Occurs to Develop, Test, and Implement a Patient Communication Aid: Sequential Collaborative Mixed Methods Study

BACKGROUND

Most cancer-related deaths result from disseminated diseases that develop resistance to anticancer treatments. Inappropriate communication in this challenging situation may result in unmet patient information and support needs. Patient communication aids such as question prompt lists (QPLs) may help.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to develop and pilot-test a specific QPL in the following two contrasting clinical contexts in France after cancer resistance has developed: triple-negative and luminal B metastatic breast cancer (MBC) and metastatic uveal melanoma (MUM).

METHODS

A sequential study design with a mixed methods collaborative approach will be applied. The first step aims to build a specific QPL. Step 1a will explore oncologist-patient communication issues from oncology professionals' interviews (n=20 approximately). Step 1b will appraise information and support needs experienced by patients with MBC or MUM both quantitatively (n=80) and qualitatively (n=40 approximately). These data will be used to develop and pilot-test a QPL specific to patients with cancer experiencing initial or acquired resistance to treatment. We expect to obtain a core QPL that comprises questions and concerns commonly expressed by patients with resistant cancer and is complemented by specific issues for either MBC or MUM cancer sites. In step 1c, 2 focus groups of patients with any type of metastatic cancer (n=4) and health care professionals (n=4) will be conducted to revise the content of a preliminary QPL and elaborate an acceptable and feasible clinical implementation. In step 1d, the content of the QPL version 1 and implementation guidance will be validated using a Delphi process. Step 2 will pilot-test the QPL version 1 in real practice with patients with MBC or MUM (n=80). Clinical utility will be assessed by comparing responses to questionnaires administered in step 1b (QPL-naive historical control group) and step 2 (QPL intervention group).

RESULTS

This study received grants in March and December 2019 and was approved by the French national ethics committee in July 2019. As of October 2021, interviews with oncology professionals have been conducted and analyzed (N=26 to reach saturation), and 39 and 27 patients with MBC and MUM, respectively, have been recruited.

CONCLUSIONS

A clinically and culturally tailored QPL is expected to facilitate patients' participation in consultations, improve oncologists' responses to patients' information and support needs, and thus foster patients' psychological adjustment to the diagnosis and follow-up of cancer resistance to treatment.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04118062; http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04118062.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID)

DERR1-10.2196/26414.

Nonverbal Synchrony: An Indicator of Clinical Communication Quality in Racially-Concordant and Racially-Discordant Oncology Interactions

Objectives

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to apply a novel software to measure and compare levels of nonverbal synchrony, as a potential indicator of communication quality, in video recordings of racially-concordant and racially-discordant oncology interactions. Predictions include that the levels of nonverbal synchrony will be greater during racially-concordant interactions than racially-discordant interactions, and that levels of nonverbal synchrony will be associated with traditional measures of communication quality in both racially-concordant and racially-discordant interactions.

Design

This is a secondary observational analysis of video-recorded oncology treatment discussions collected from 2 previous studies.

Setting

Two National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers and another large urban cancer center.

Participants

Participants from Study 1 include 161 White patients with cancer and 11 White medical oncologists. Participants from Study 2 include 66 Black/African-American patients with cancer and 17 non-Black medical oncologists. In both studies inclusion criteria for patients was a recent cancer diagnosis; in Study 2 inclusion criteria was identifying as Black/African American.

Main outcome measures

Nonverbal synchrony and communication quality.

Results

Greater levels of nonverbal synchrony were observed in racially-discordant interactions than in racially-concordant interactions. Levels of nonverbal synchrony were associated with indicators of communication quality, and these associations were more consistently found in racially-discordant interactions.

Conclusion

This study advances clinical communication and disparities research by successfully applying a novel approach capturing the unconscious nature of communication, and revealing differences in communication in racially-discordant and racially-concordant oncology interactions. This study highlights the need for further exploration of nonverbal aspects relevant to patient-physician interactions.

A Review of the Evidence and Recommendations on Communication Skills and the Patient-Provider Relationship: A Rome Foundation Working Team Report

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Over several decades, changes in health care have negatively impacted meaningful communication between the patient and provider and adversely affected their relationship. Under increasing time pressure, physicians rely more on technology than face-to-face time gathering data to make clinical decisions. As a result, they find it more challenging to understand the illness context and fully address patient needs. Patients experience dissatisfaction and a diminution of their role in the care process. For patients with disorders of gut-brain interaction, stigma leads to greater care dissatisfaction, as there is no apparent structural basis to legitimize the symptoms. Recent evidence suggests that practical communication skills can improve the patient-provider relationship (PPR) and clinical outcomes, but these data are limited.

METHODS

The Rome Foundation convened a multidisciplinary working team to review the scientific evidence with the following aims: a) to study the effect of communication skills on patient satisfaction and outcomes by performing an evidence-based review; b) to characterize the influence of sociocultural factors, health care system constraints, patient perspective, and telehealth on the PPR; c) to review the measurement and impact of communication skills training on these outcomes; and d) to make recommendations to improve communication skills training and the PPR.

RESULTS

Evidence supports the fact that interventions targeting patient-provider interactions improve population health, patient and provider experience, and costs. Communication skills training leads to improved patient satisfaction and outcomes. The following are relevant factors to consider in establishing an effective PPR: addressing health care system constraints; incorporating sociocultural factors and the role of gender, age, and chronic illness; and considering the changing role of telehealth on the PPR.

CONCLUSIONS

We concluded that effective communication skills can improve the PPR and health outcomes. This is an achievable goal through training and system change. More research is needed to confirm these findings.

The DISCO App: A pilot test of a multi-level intervention to reduce the financial burden of cancer through improved cost communication☆

Objective

Financial toxicity affects 30–50% of people with cancer in the US. Although experts recommend patients and physicians discuss treatment cost, cost discussions occur infrequently. We pilot-tested the feasibility, acceptability and influence on outcomes of the DIScussions of COst (DISCO) App, a multi-level communication intervention designed to improve cost discussions and related outcomes.

Methods

While waiting to see their physician, patients (n = 32) used the DISCO App on a tablet. Physicians were given a cost discussion tip sheet. Clinic visits were video recorded and patients completed pre- and post-intervention measures of self-efficacy for managing costs, self-efficacy for interacting with physicians, cost-related distress, and perceptions of the DISCO App. Coders observed the recordings to determine the presence of cost discussions, initiators, and topics.

Results

Most patients reported needing ≤15 min to use the DISCO App, and that it made it easier to ask cost-related questions. Findings showed increased self-efficacy for managing treatment costs (p = .02) and for interacting with physicians (p = .001). All visits included a cost discussion.

Conclusions

Prompting patients to discuss costs may improve cost treatment discussions and related outcomes.

Innovation

An app-based and tailorable treatment-cost communication intervention is feasible, acceptable, and demonstrates promise in prompting cost discussions and improving outcomes.

Trial registration: Clinical Trials.gov registration number: NCT03676920 (September 19, 2018).

DISCO App: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial to test the effectiveness of a patient intervention to reduce the financial burden of cancer in a diverse patient population

Background

Financial toxicity, the material and psychological burden of the cost of treatment, affects 30–50% of people with cancer, even those with health insurance. The burden of treatment cost can affect treatment adherence and, ultimately, mortality. Financial toxicity is a health equity issue, disproportionately affecting patients who are racial/ethnic minorities, have lower incomes, and are < 65 years old. Patient education about treatment cost and patient-oncologist cost discussions are recommended as ways to address financial toxicity; however, research shows cost discussions occur infrequently (Altice et al. J Natl Cancer Inst 109:djw205, 2017; Schnipper et al. J Clin Oncol 34:2925-34, 2016; Zafar et al. Oncologist 18:381-90, 2013; American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network 2010). Our overall goal is to address the burden of financial toxicity and work toward health equity through a tailorable education and communication intervention, the DISCO App. The aim of this longitudinal randomized controlled trial is to test the effectiveness of the DISCO App on the outcomes in a population of economically and racially/ethnically diverse cancer patients from all age groups.

Methods

Patients diagnosed with breast, lung, colorectal, or prostate cancer at a NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center in Detroit, MI, will be randomized to one of three study arms: one usual care arm (arm 1) and two intervention arms (arms 2 and 3). All intervention patients (arms 2 and 3) will receive the DISCO App before the second interaction with their oncologist, and patients in arm 3 will receive an intervention booster. The DISCO App, presented on an iPad, includes an educational video about treatment costs, ways to manage them, and the importance of discussing them with oncologists. Patients enter socio-demographic information (e.g., employment, insurance status) and indicate their financial concerns. They then receive a tailored list of questions to consider asking their oncologist. All patients will have up to two interactions with their oncologist video recorded and complete measures at baseline, after the recorded interactions and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after the second interaction. Outcome measures will assess discussions of cost, communication quality, knowledge of treatment costs, self-efficacy for treatment cost management, referrals for support, short- and longer-term financial toxicity, and treatment adherence.

Discussion

If effective, this intervention will improve awareness of and discussions of treatment cost and alleviate the burden of financial toxicity. It may be especially helpful to groups disproportionately affected by financial toxicity, helping to achieve health equity.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04766190. Registered on February 23, 2021

Engaging Patients to Ask More Questions: What's the Best Way? A Pragmatic Randomized Controlled Trial

PURPOSE

Hand conditions are common, and often require a discussion of the tradeoffs of different treatment options. Our goal was to evaluate whether providing patients with a Question Prompt List (QPL) for common hand conditions improves their perceived involvement in care compared with providing patients with 3 generic questions.

METHODS

We performed a prospective, single-center, pragmatic randomized controlled trial. We created a QPL pamphlet for patients with common hand conditions. New patients with common hand conditions were enrolled between April 2019 and July 2019 and were randomized into either the QPL group (with 35 hand-specific questions) or the AskShareKnow group (3 generic questions: [1] What are my options? [2] What are the possible benefits and harms of those options? [3] How likely are each of these benefit and harms to happen to me?). Both groups received the questions prior to meeting with their surgeon. We used the Perceived Involvement in Care Scale (PICS), a validated instrument designed to evaluate patient participation in decision-making, as our primary outcome. The maximum PICS score is 13, and a higher score indicates higher perceived involvement.

RESULTS

One hundred twenty-six patients participated in the study, with 63 patients in the QPL group and 63 patients in the AskShareKnow group. The demographic characteristics were similar in the 2 groups. The mean AskShareKnow group PICS score was 8.3 ± 2.2 and the mean QPL PICS score was 7.5 ± 2.8, which was not deemed clinically significant.

CONCLUSIONS

The QPLs do not increase perceived involvement in care in patients with hand conditions compared with providing patients with 3 generic questions.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Various approaches have been evaluated to help improve patient involvement in their care. In hand surgery, 3 generic questions were no different than a lengthy QPL with respect to patient involvement in their care.

A Review of Research on Disparities in the Care of Black and White Patients With Cancer in Detroit

Racial disparities in cancer incidence and outcomes are well-documented in the US, with Black people having higher incidence rates and worse outcomes than White people. In this review, we present a summary of almost 30 years of research conducted by investigators at the Karmanos Cancer Institute's (KCI's) Population Studies and Disparities Research (PSDR) Program focusing on Black-White disparities in cancer incidence, care, and outcomes. The studies in the review focus on individuals diagnosed with cancer from the Detroit Metropolitan area, but also includes individuals included in national databases. Using an organizational framework of three generations of studies on racial disparities, this review describes racial disparities by primary cancer site, disparities associated with the presence or absence of comorbid medical conditions, disparities in treatment, and disparities in physician-patient communication, all of which contribute to poorer outcomes for Black cancer patients. While socio-demographic and clinical differences account for some of the noted disparities, further work is needed to unravel the influence of systemic effects of racism against Black people, which is argued to be the major contributor to disparate outcomes between Black and White patients with cancer. This review highlights evidence-based strategies that have the potential to help mitigate disparities, improve care for vulnerable populations, and build an equitable healthcare system. Lessons learned can also inform a more equitable response to other health conditions and crises.

A qualitative study on patients' and their support persons' preferences for receiving one longer consultation or two shorter consultations when being informed about allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Background

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (alloHSCT) is the only potentially curative treatment option for many patients with hematological disorders but it includes a significant risk of mortality and long-term morbidity. Many patients and their support persons feel overwhelmed when being informed about alloHSCT and may benefit from improvements in consultation style and timing.

Aims

To explore, qualitatively, in a sample of hematological cancer patients and their support persons, their preferences for receiving one longer consultation or two shorter consultations when being informed about alloHSCT. Participants’ perceptions of when and how different consultation styles should be offered were also examined.

Methods

Semi-structured face-to-face and phone interviews were conducted. A purposeful sampling frame was used. Data were analysed using framework analysis.

Results

Twenty patients and 13 support persons were recruited (consent rate: 96%, response rate: 91%). Most patients (60%) and support persons (62%) preferred two shorter consultations over one longer consultation. This helped them digest and recall the information provided, remember questions they had, involve significant others and search for additional information. Patients would have liked to be offered paper and pen to take notes, take a break after 30 min and have their understanding checked at the end of the first consultation, e.g. using question prompt lists. Some patients and support persons preferred both consultations to happen on the same day to reduce waiting times as well as travel times and costs. Others preferred having a few days in-between both consultations to better help them prepare the second consultation. Participants reported varying preferences for different consultation styles depending on personal and disease-related characteristics, such as age, health literacy level and previous treatment.

Conclusion

To our knowledge, this is the first qualitative study to explore patients’ and their support persons’ preferences for having one longer consultation or two shorter consultations when being informed about alloHSCT. Receiving two shorter consultations may help patients process and recall the information provided and more actively involve their support persons. Clinicians should consider offering patients and their support persons to take a break after 30 min, provide paper and pen as well as question prompt lists.

Effect of question prompt lists for cancer patients on communication and mental health outcomes-A systematic review

OBJECTIVE

To provide a systematic review on the effects of question prompt lists (QPL) in oncological settings.

METHODS

A systematic literature search was conducted in Medline, PsycINFO and the Cochrane Collaboration. Randomized controlled studies (RCTs) that evaluated QPL-only interventions were included. Risk of bias of included studies was evaluated using the Cochrane RoB 2 tool. Data concerning effects on communicative processes in patient-physician relationship and psychological outcomes were analyzed.

RESULTS

10 RCTs met the inclusion criteria. Results suggest that QPLs lead to a shift of topics discussed. There were weak indications that QPL interventions increase anxiety shortly before and after consultations, but may decline anxiety during follow-up. Patients consistently perceive QPLs as more helpful than usual information sheets. QPL-only interventions show limited impact on communicative processes and psychological outcomes. They help not to forget or discuss important questions.

CONCLUSION

With a better integration in patient-physician communication QPLs may become a useful tool for patients and physicians. Future research is needed to investigate if there is greater benefit from QPL interventions in specific settings.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

QPLs are an inexpensive tool to influence communicative processes positively in oncological consultations.

Michigan Screening and Intervention for Glaucoma and Eye Health Through Telemedicine (MI-SIGHT): Baseline Methodology for Implementing and Assessing a Community-based Program

PRECIS

The Michigan Screening and Intervention for Glaucoma and eye Health through Telemedicine (MI-SIGHT) program leverages community-engaged research, telemedicine, and health coaching to overcome key logistical and psychosocial barriers to improve glaucoma screening in underserved communities.

PURPOSE

To describe the methodology of the implementation and evaluation of the MI-SIGHT Program.

METHODS

The MI-SIGHT Program uses community engagement, telemedicine, and health coaching to overcome key logistical and psychosocial barriers to glaucoma identification and care among underserved populations. The MI-SIGHT Program will be evaluated in 2 community clinics: Hamilton Community Health Network, a federally qualified health center in Flint, Michigan, and the Hope Clinic, a free clinic in Ypsilanti, Michigan. A Community Advisory Board including the research team and health care providers, administrators, and patients from both clinics will guide program implementation. An ophthalmic technician at the community clinics will conduct screening tests for glaucoma and eye disease. The data will be transmitted through electronic health record to be reviewed by an ophthalmologist who will make recommendations for follow-up care. The ophthalmic technician will conduct a return visit to fit low-or no-cost glasses, help arrange follow-up with an ophthalmologist, and provide education. Those diagnosed with glaucoma or suspected glaucoma will be randomized to standard education or personalized glaucoma education and coaching. Costs will be assessed.

RESULTS

The authors hypothesize that the MI-SIGHT Program will detect a higher prevalence rate of glaucoma than that found in the general population, improve upon presenting visual acuity, enhance vision-related quality of life, and demonstrate that personalized glaucoma education and coaching improve adherence to follow-up care.

CONCLUSION

The MI-SIGHT Program may serve as a model for glaucoma screening and care in high-risk communities.

The Question-prompt list (QPL): Why it is needed in the Indian oncology setting?

BACKGROUND

In India, caregivers are an integral part of the illness experience, especially in cancer, to the extent that they can become proxy decision-makers for the patient. Further, owing to acute resource constraints in the Indian healthcare system, it may be difficult for oncologists to assess and elicit questions from each patient/caregiver. Consequently, there is a need to address these unique aspects of oncology care in India to improve patient outcomes and understanding of their illness and treatment. This can be achieved through a Question Prompt List (QPL), a checklist used by care recipients during medical consultations.

RECENT FINDINGS

This narrative review will first introduce research on the development and effectiveness of the QPL, and then it will highlight current gaps in oncology care in India and explore how the QPL may aid in closing these gaps. A literature search of the empirical research focused on the development, feasibility and acceptability of the QPL in oncology settings was conducted. The final review included 40 articles pertaining to QPL research. Additionally, psycho-oncology research in India centered on information needs and experiences was reviewed. Current Indian psycho-oncology research reports patients' want to be actively involved in their cancer care and a need for more illness information. However, a high demand on physicians' resources and the family caregivers' interference can be barriers to meeting patients' information/communication needs. International research demonstrates that a QPL helps structure and decrease consultation time, improves patient satisfaction with care, and improves the quality of communication during medical encounters.

CONCLUSION

QPLs for Indian patients and caregivers may focus on the scope of medical consultations to address patient needs while influencing the course and content of the patient-caregiver-physician interactions. Further, it can address the resource constraints in Indian oncology care settings, thus reducing the physician's burden.

Characterizing patient-oncologist communication in genomic tumor testing: The 21-gene recurrence score as an exemplar

OBJECTIVE

Women with early-stage, ER + breast cancer are recommend to receive genomic profiling tests, such as the 21-gene Recurrence Score (RS) test, to guide treatment decisions. We examined test- and treatment-related information discussed and the associations between RS categories and aspects of communication during patient-oncologist clinical encounters.

METHODS

As part of a larger trial, clinical encounters (N = 46) were audiorecorded and coded for 1) RS- and treatment-related information, 2) shared decision making, 3) patient active participation, and 4) oncologist patient-centered communication. We examined differences by RS category using mixed models, adjusting for nesting within oncologist.

RESULTS

Patients with a high RS were more likely to receive a chemotherapy recommendation (p < .01), hear about the risks/side effects of chemotherapy (p < .01), and offer their preferences (p = .02) than those with intermediate or low RS. Elements of shared decision making increased with RS. Oncologist patient-centered communication (M = 4.09/5, SD = .25) and patient active participation (M = 3.5/4, SD = 1.0) were high across RS.

CONCLUSION

Findings suggest that disease severity, rather than clinical uncertainty, impact treatment recommendations and shared decision making.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Oncologists adjust test- and treatment-related information and shared decision making by disease severity. This information provides a framework to inform decision making in complex cancer and genomics settings.

Improving symptom-related communication skills among cancer patients in an oncology ward: a best practice implementation project

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS

As a symptom is a subjective perception of patients, good symptom management requires the patients to actively talk to clinicians about their symptom experience and to effectively express concerns about treatment. It has been found that the patients displayed poor communication behaviors and lacked communication knowledge and skills in the oncology ward of a tertiary hospital in PR China, indicating the need for improvement. This project aimed to promote the cancer patients' symptom-related communication with clinicians in this hospital setting.

METHOD

A baseline audit against six evidence-based audit criteria derived from best practice recommendations was conducted, utilizing the JBI Practical Application of Clinical Evidence System tool. Identification of facilitators and barriers to best practice was then carried out and strategies were implemented to overcome identified barriers. A postimplementation audit was undertaken to assess any improvement in practice.

RESULTS

The baseline audit showed that the nurses' compliance with best practice recommendations was unsatisfactory, with five out of six criteria recording 0% compliance. Strategies including nurse education, patient symptom assessment, patient education and use of communication tools were implemented. The postimplementation audit showed significantly improved compliance in the nurses' practice with all best practice recommendations, with all audit criteria achieving at least 69% compliance.

CONCLUSION

The project achieved improved practice in patient communication promotion across all six audit criteria. However, further effort is needed to strengthen and maintain best practice. Patient symptom-related communication behavior should be measured in the future.

Impact of Patients' Companions on Clinical Encounters Between Black Patients and Their Non-Black Oncologists

PURPOSE

The presence of caregivers or companions during clinical encounters influences the dynamics and outcomes of the encounters. Most prior studies of companions in clinical encounters focus on non-Hispanic White patients. However, there is generally lower-quality patient-physician communication during encounters with Black patients; these communication differences may contribute to racial health disparities. The purpose of the present study was to examine effects of the presence and active participation of companions on encounters between Black patients with cancer and non-Black oncologists.

METHODS

This was a secondary analysis of data collected during a larger intervention study. Participants were Black patients with breast, colon, or lung cancer who had a treatment-discussion encounter with a participating non-Black medical oncologist. Video recordings of encounters were coded for patient, companion, and oncologist communication. After the encounter, patients reported perceptions of the recommended treatment; patients and oncologists reported perceptions of each other.

RESULTS

Data from 114 patients and 19 oncologists were included in analyses. Only 47% of patients brought a companion to the encounter. Oncologists spent more time with accompanied Black patients, used more patient-centered communication with them, and perceived them as having more social support compared with unaccompanied Black patients. Oncologists reported that accompanied patients asked more questions. When companions participated more actively in the encounter, oncologists used more patient-centered communication.

DISCUSSION

Bringing a companion to oncology appointments may be beneficial to Black patients because oncologists spend more time with patients, use more patient-centered communication, and perceive patients more positively, all of which may ultimately improve patient health and well-being outcomes.

Examining the dynamic nature of nonverbal communication between Black patients with cancer and their oncologists

BACKGROUND

Although communication quality is associated with patient outcomes, racial disparities in communication exist, disproportionately burdening Black patients. However, most communication research focuses on verbal behaviors in predominantly White patient populations. We used a newly developed and theory-guided network analysis that examines the dynamic interplay and behavioral convergence and divergence between Black patients with cancer and their oncologists during cancer treatment discussions.

METHODS

We applied a nonverbal behavioral coding system to thin slices of video recordings of Black patients and their oncologists discussing treatment. We then estimated 3 networks: 1) a temporal network to determine whether a nonverbal behavior predicts another nonverbal behavior at the next time point in an interaction, and how much each nonverbal behavior influences other nonverbal behaviors and is influenced by other nonverbal behaviors; 2) a contemporaneous network to determine whether a nonverbal behavior co-occurs with other nonverbal behaviors at the same time point in an interaction; and 3) a between-dyads network to examine the covariation between nonverbal behaviors across all dyads.

RESULTS

Black patients (n = 74) and their non-Black physicians (n = 15) showed a mix of convergence and divergence in their nonverbal behaviors at the same points in time, from one time point to the next, and across dyads. Across analyses, convergence was most likely to occur when physicians matched their behaviors to their patients; especially with smiling, gaze, leaning, and laughter behaviors.

CONCLUSION

Our findings reveal patterns of modifiable behaviors that can potentially inform interventions to reduce disparities in clinical communication and, in turn, treatment and mortality disparities.

Sex and gender considerations in implementation interventions to promote shared decision making: A secondary analysis of a Cochrane systematic review

Background

Shared decision making (SDM) in healthcare is an approach in which health professionals support patients in making decisions based on best evidence and their values and preferences. Considering sex and gender in SDM research is necessary to produce precisely-targeted interventions, improve evidence quality and redress health inequities. A first step is correct use of terms. We therefore assessed sex and gender terminology in SDM intervention studies.

Materials and methods

We performed a secondary analysis of a Cochrane review of SDM interventions. We extracted study characteristics and their use of sex, gender or related terms (mention; number of categories). We assessed correct use of sex and gender terms using three criteria: “non-binary use”, “use of appropriate categories” and “non-interchangeable use of sex and gender”. We computed the proportion of studies that met all, any or no criteria, and explored associations between criteria met and study characteristics.

Results

Of 87 included studies, 58 (66.7%) mentioned sex and/or gender. The most mentioned related terms were “female” (60.9%) and “male” (59.8%). Of the 58 studies, authors used sex and gender as binary variables respectively in 36 (62%) and in 34 (58.6%) studies. No study met the criterion “non-binary use”. Authors used appropriate categories to describe sex and gender respectively in 28 (48.3%) and in 8 (13.8%) studies. Of the 83 (95.4%) studies in which sex and/or gender, and/or related terms were mentioned, authors used sex and gender non-interchangeably in 16 (19.3%). No study met all three criteria. Criteria met did not vary according to study characteristics (p>.05).

Conclusions

In SDM implementation studies, sex and gender terms and concepts are in a state of confusion. Our results suggest the urgency of adopting a standardized use of sex and gender terms and concepts before these considerations can be properly integrated into implementation research.

Question Prompt List to Support Patient-Provider Communication in the Use of the 21-Gene Recurrence Test: Feasibility, Acceptability, and Outcomes

PURPOSE

The 21-gene recurrence score (RS) assay is used to guide breast cancer treatment decisions but can be poorly understood by patients. We examined the effects of a question prompt list (QPL) on knowledge, distress, and decisional conflict related to genomic testing and treatment in early-stage breast cancer.

METHODS

We describe the feasibility and acceptability of the QPL and the impact of the QPL on knowledge, distress, and decisional conflict before and after the receipt of the QPL (MEND 2, N = 65). We also compared distress and decisional conflict between women who received the QPL (MEND 2, N = 65) and a comparable group of women who did not receive the QPL who participated in an earlier observational study within the same clinics (MEND 1, N = 136).

RESULTS

MEND 2 participants indicated high acceptability and feasibility using the QPL. Knowledge increased post-QPL (P < .01) but did not decrease distress. Decisional conflict was lower among women in MEND 2 compared with those in MEND 1 (P < .01), with no statistically significant differences in distress.

CONCLUSION

The findings suggest that the QPL is feasible, acceptable, can improve knowledge and decrease decisional conflict in the large group of women deciding treatment while integrating RS test results.

Which Decisions For Management of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Distal Radius Fractures Should Be Shared?

PURPOSE

To evaluate, from the surgeon's perspective, the importance, feasibility, and appropriateness of sharing decisions during an episode of care of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) or distal radius fracture in patients aged greater than 65 years.

METHODS

A consortium of 9 fellowship-trained hand/upper-limb surgeons used the RAND Corporation/University of California Los Angeles Delphi Appropriateness method to evaluate the importance, feasibility, and appropriateness of sharing 27 decisions for CTS and 28 decisions for distal radius fractures in patients aged greater than 65 years. Panelists rated each measure on a scale of 1 (definitely not important/feasible/appropriate) to 9 (definitely important/feasible/appropriate) in 2 voting rounds with an intervening face-to-face discussion. Panelist agreement and disagreement were assessed using predetermined criteria.

RESULTS

Panelists achieved agreement on 16 decisions (29%) as important, 43 (78%) as feasible, and 17 (31%) as appropriate for sharing with patients. Twelve decisions met all 3 of these criteria and were therefore considered important, feasible, and appropriate to share with patients. Examples in CTS included decisions to perform extra confirmatory diagnostic testing, to have surgery, and to perform a steroid injection into the carpal tunnel. Examples in distal radius fracture management included the decision to have surgery, type of pain medication prescribed after surgery, and whether to remove the implant. The remaining 43 decisions did not reach consensus on the importance, feasibility, and appropriateness of sharing with patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Using a validated consensus-building approach, we identified 12 decisions made during an episode of care for CTS or distal radius fracture that were important, feasible, and appropriate to share with patients from the surgeon's perspective. These decisions merit inclusion in shared decision-making models (eg, preoperative patient preference elicitation tools or decision aids) to align patient preferences with care decisions.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Understanding which aspects of care are important, feasible, and appropriate to share with patients may improve patient-centered care by aligning patient preferences with care decisions.

African American Patients With Multiple Myeloma: Optimizing Care to Decrease Racial Disparities

The incidence of multiple myeloma in African Americans is two to three times higher than in other ethnicities and is the leading hematologic malignancy in African Americans. Despite the high incidence of multiple myeloma in African American individuals, a vast majority experience delays in diagnosis and reduced usage of effective therapies, including stem cell transplantation, as well as low participation in clinical trials. Racial disparities, social and financial health disparities, and barriers to earlier access to care can lead to poorer patient outcomes. There are also unique characteristics in the disease manifestation in African Americans with multiple myeloma that are imperative for oncology nurses to understand and recognize to provide optimal care.

Navigator-Based Intervention to Support Communication in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit: A Pilot Study

BACKGROUND

Communication in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) between families and the health care team affects the family experience, caregiver psychological morbidity, and patient outcomes.

OBJECTIVE

To test the feasibility of studying and implementing a PICU communication intervention called PICU Supports, and to assess families' and health care teams' perceptions of the intervention.

METHODS

This study involved patients requiring more than 24 hours of PICU care. An interventionist trained in PICU-focused health care navigation, a "navigator," met with parents and the health care team to discuss communication, decision-making, emotional, informational, and discharge or end-of-life care needs; offered weekly family meetings; and checked in with parents after PICU discharge. The feasibility of implementing the intervention was assessed by tracking navigator activities. Health care team and family perceptions were assessed using surveys, interviews, and focus groups.

RESULTS

Of 53 families approached about the study, 35 (66%) agreed to participate. The navigator met with parents on 71% and the health care team on 85% of possible weekdays, and completed 86% of the postdischarge check-ins. Family meetings were offered to 95% of eligible patients. The intervention was rated as helpful by 97% of parents, and comments during interviews were positive.

CONCLUSIONS

The PICU Supports intervention is feasible to implement and study and is viewed favorably by parents.

Empowering Older Adults to Discuss Advance Care Planning During Clinical Visits: The PREPARE Randomized Trial

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

A patient-directed, online program (PREPARE for Your Care [PREPARE]; prepareforyourcare.org) has been shown to increase advance care planning (ACP) documentation. However, the mechanisms underlying PREPARE are unknown. Our objectives were to compare the efficacy of PREPARE plus an easy-to-read advance directive (AD) vs an AD alone to increase active patient participation in ACP discussions during clinic visits and to examine effects of active patient participation on ACP documentation.

DESIGN

Audio recordings of postintervention primary care visits from two randomized trials (2013-2016).

SETTING

Seven primary care clinics at a veterans affair and safety-net hospital in San Francisco, CA.

PARTICIPANTS

English- and Spanish-speaking adults, aged 55 years and older, with two or more chronic/serious conditions.

INTERVENTION

PREPARE plus an easy-to-read AD or an AD alone.

MEASUREMENTS

The primary outcome was the number of active patient participation utterances about ACP (eg, asking questions, stating preferences) measured by the validated Active Patient Participation Coding Scheme. We examined differences in utterances by study arm using mixed effects negative binomial models and utterances as a mediator of PREPARE's effect on documentation using adjusted logistic regression. Models were adjusted for health literacy, prior care planning, and clinician.

RESULTS

Among 393 participants, the mean (SD) age was 66 (8.1) years, 120 (30.5%) had limited health literacy, and 99 (25.2%) were Spanish speaking. PREPARE plus the AD resulted in 41% more active patient participation in ACP discussions compared with the AD alone (mean [SD] = 10.1 [16.8] vs 6.6 [13.4] utterances; incidence rate ratio = 1.41; 95% confidence interval = 1.00-1.98). For every additional utterance, participants had 15% higher odds of ACP documentation, and active patient participation accounted for 16% of PREPARE's effect on documentation.

CONCLUSIONS

The PREPARE program and easy-to-read AD empowered patients to actively participate in ACP discussions during clinical visits more than the AD alone. Increased activation was associated with increased ACP documentation. Therefore, PREPARE may mitigate barriers to ACP among English- and Spanish-speaking older adults.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov identifiers: "Improving Advance Care Planning by Preparing Diverse Seniors for Decision Making (PREPARE)" NCT01990235 and "Preparing Spanish-Speaking Older Adults for Advance Care Planning and Medical Decision Making (PREPARE)" NCT02072941. J Am Geriatr Soc 68:1210-1217, 2020.

The influence of a question prompt list on patient-oncologist information exchange in an African-American population

OBJECTIVES

Question Prompt Lists (QPL) increase patient active participation in oncology interactions, but questions remain regarding how QPLs influence patient-oncologist information exchange. We examined how a QPL influenced information exchange during oncology interactions with African-American patients.

METHODS

Data were self-reports and video recordings from a parent study testing the effects of a QPL in the outpatient clinics of two urban cancer hospitals. In this secondary analysis, we investigated which QPL questions patients identified as ones they wanted to ask their oncologists, how frequently patients/companions used patient active participation statements to seek information related to each QPL question, whether oncologists provided QPL-related information unprompted or prompted by patients/companions, and how frequently patients' QPL-related information needs were addressed or unaddressed.

RESULTS

The QPL influenced information exchange by increasing patients' and companions' (if present) prompting for QPL-related information from their oncologists. Patients/companions most often prompted for QPL-related information about side effects and patient experience.

CONCLUSION

This study builds on prior research on QPL interventions by expanding the object of study to information exchange and by analyzing patients' information needs.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

This research demonstrates that a QPL supports patient/companion participation in oncology consultations by making information exchange more interactive.

Growing Disparities in Patient-Provider Messaging: Trend Analysis Before and After Supportive Policy

BACKGROUND

Public policy introduced since 2011 has supported provider adoption of electronic medical records (EMRs) and patient-provider messaging, primarily through financial incentives. It is unclear how disparities in patients' use of incentivized electronic health (eHealth) tools, like patient-provider messaging, have changed over time relative to disparities in use of eHealth tools that were not directly incentivized.

OBJECTIVE

This study examines trends in eHealth disparities before and after the introduction of US federal financial incentives. We compare rates of patient-provider messaging, which was directly incentivized, with rates of looking for health information on the Web, which was not directly incentivized.

METHODS

We used nationally representative Health Information National Trends Survey data from 2003 to 2018 (N=37,300) to describe disparities in patient-provider messaging and looking for health information on the Web. We first reported the percentage of individuals across education and racial and ethnic groups who reported using these tools in each survey year and compared changes in unadjusted disparities during preincentive (2003-2011) and postincentive (2011-2018) periods. Using multivariable linear probability models, we then examined adjusted effects of education and race and ethnicity in 3 periods-preincentive (2003-2005), early incentive (2011-2013), and postincentive (2017-2018)-controlling for sociodemographic and health factors. In the postincentive period, an additional model tested whether internet adoption, provider access, or providers' use of EMRs explained disparities.

RESULTS

From 2003 to 2018, overall rates of provider messaging increased from 4% to 36%. The gap in provider messaging between the highest and lowest education groups increased by 10 percentage points preincentive (P<.001) and 22 additional points postincentive (P<.001). The gap between Hispanics and non-Hispanic whites increased by 3.2 points preincentive (P=.42) and 11 additional points postincentive (P=.01). Trends for blacks resembled those for Hispanics, whereas trends for Asians resembled those for non-Hispanic whites. In contrast, education-based disparities in looking for health information on the Web (which was not directly incentivized) did not significantly change in preincentive or postincentive periods, whereas racial disparities narrowed by 15 percentage points preincentive (P=.008) and did not significantly change postincentive. After adjusting for other sociodemographic and health factors, observed associations were similar to unadjusted associations, though smaller in magnitude. Including internet adoption, provider access, and providers' use of EMRs in the postincentive model attenuated, but did not eliminate, education-based disparities in provider messaging and looking for health information on the Web. Racial and ethnic disparities were no longer statistically significant in adjusted models.

CONCLUSIONS

Disparities in provider messaging widened over time, particularly following federal financial incentives. Meanwhile, disparities in looking for health information on the Web remained stable or narrowed. Incentives may have disproportionately benefited socioeconomically advantaged groups. Future policy could address disparities by incentivizing providers treating these populations to adopt messaging capabilities and encouraging patients' use of messaging.

Communication interventions in adult and pediatric oncology: A scoping review and analysis of behavioral targets

Background

Improving communication requires that clinicians and patients change their behaviors. Interventions might be more successful if they incorporate principles from behavioral change theories. We aimed to determine which behavioral domains are targeted by communication interventions in oncology.

Methods

Systematic search of literature indexed in Ovid Medline, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Clinicaltrials.gov (2000–October 2018) for intervention studies targeting communication behaviors of clinicians and/or patients in oncology. Two authors extracted the following information: population, number of participants, country, number of sites, intervention target, type and context, study design. All included studies were coded based on which behavioral domains were targeted, as defined by Theoretical Domains Framework.

Findings

Eighty-eight studies met inclusion criteria. Interventions varied widely in which behavioral domains were engaged. Knowledge and skills were engaged most frequently (85%, 75/88 and 73%, 64/88, respectively). Fewer than 5% of studies engaged social influences (3%, 3/88) or environmental context/resources (5%, 4/88). No studies engaged reinforcement. Overall, 7/12 behavioral domains were engaged by fewer than 30% of included studies. We identified methodological concerns in many studies. These 88 studies reported 188 different outcome measures, of which 156 measures were reported by individual studies.

Conclusions

Most communication interventions target few behavioral domains. Increased engagement of behavioral domains in future studies could support communication needs in feasible, specific, and sustainable ways. This study is limited by only including interventions that directly facilitated communication interactions, which excluded stand-alone educational interventions and decision-aids. Also, we applied stringent coding criteria to allow for reproducible, consistent coding, potentially leading to underrepresentation of behavioral domains.

A Qualitative Study of New York Medical Student Views on Implicit Bias Instruction: Implications for Curriculum Development

BACKGROUND

For at least the past two decades, medical educators have worked to improve patient communication and health care delivery to diverse patient populations; despite efforts, patients continue to report prejudice and bias during their clinical encounters. Targeted instruction in implicit bias recognition and management may promote the delivery of equitable care, but students at times resist this instruction. Little guidance exists to overcome this resistance and to engage students in implicit bias instruction; instruction over time could lead to eventual skill development that is necessary to mitigate the influence of implicit bias on clinical practice behaviors.

OBJECTIVE

To explore student perceptions of challenges and opportunities when participating in implicit bias instruction.

APPROACH

We conducted a qualitative study that involved 11 focus groups with medical students across each of the four class years to explore their perceptions of challenges and opportunities related to participating in such instruction. We analyzed transcripts for themes.

KEY RESULTS

Our analysis suggests a range of attitudes toward implicit bias instruction and identifies contextual factors that may influence these attitudes. The themes were (1) resistance; (2) shame; (3) the negative role of the hidden curriculum; and (4) structural barriers to student engagement. Students expressed resistance to implicit bias instruction; some of these attitudes are fueled from concerns of anticipated shame within the learning environment. Participants also indicated that student engagement in implicit bias instruction was influenced by the hidden curriculum and structural barriers.

CONCLUSIONS

These insights can inform future curriculum development efforts. Considerations related to instructional design and programmatic decision-making are highlighted. These considerations for implicit bias instruction may provide useful frameworks for educators looking for opportunities to minimize student resistance and maximize engagement in multi-session instruction in implicit bias recognition and management.

Designing and Testing Apps to Support Patients With Cancer: Looking to Behavioral Science to Lead the Way

Background

Behavioral science has a long and strong tradition of rigorous experimental and applied methodologies, which have produced several influential and far-reaching theoretical frameworks and have guided countless inquiries of human behavior in various contexts. In cancer care, behavioral scientists have established a firm foundation of research focused on understanding the experience of cancer and using that understanding to design and implement theory- and evidenced-based interventions to help patients cope with the cancer experience. Given the rich behavioral research base in oncology, behavioral scientists are ideally positioned to lead the integration of evidence-based science on behavior and behavior change into the development of smartphone apps supporting patients with cancer. Smartphone apps are being disseminated to patients with cancer with claims of being able to help them negotiate areas of vulnerability in their cancer experience. However, the vast majority of these apps are developed without the rigor and expertise of behavioral scientists.

Objective

In this article, we have illustrated the importance of behavioral science leading the development and evaluation of apps to support patients with cancer by providing an illustrative scientific process that our team of behavioral scientists, patient stakeholders, medical oncologists, and software developers used to empirically design and evaluate 2 patient-focused apps: the Discussion of Cost App (DISCO App) and MyPatientPal.

Methods

Using a focused literature review and a descriptive roadmap of our team’s process for designing and evaluating patient-focused behavioral apps for patients with cancer, we have demonstrated how behavioral scientists are integral to the development of empirically sound apps to help support patients with cancer. Specifically, we have illustrated the process by which our multidisciplinary team combined the established user-centered design principles and behavioral science theory and scientific rigor to design and evaluate 2 patient-focused apps.

Results

On the basis of initial acceptability and feasibility testing among patients and providers, our team has demonstrated how critical behavioral science is for designing and evaluating app-based interventions for patients with cancer.

Conclusions

Behavioral science can and should be coupled with user-centered design principles to provide theoretical guidance and the rigor of the scientific method, thereby adding the much-needed and critical evidence for these types of app-based interventions for patients with cancer.

Development and preliminary results on the feasibility of a renal diet specific question prompt sheet for use in nephrology clinics

Background

Adherence to the diet prescription for chronic kidney disease is suboptimal. Interventions to improve dietary adherence suggest that improving communication between the patient and the health professional is fundamental to improving outcomes. Providing patients with a question prompt sheet prior to the consultation has been demonstrated to be an effective method for improving communication between patient and health professional. In the absence of a renal diet specific version, the aims of this study were to develop and test the feasibility of a renal diet specific question prompt sheet for use in nephrology clinics.

Methods

Phase one utilized social listening methodology, online content analysis and clinic observations to obtain an extensive list of frequently asked questions about the renal diet. Following refinement with health professionals, the draft question prompt sheet was then sent in Phase two to patients one week prior to their scheduled consultation with the renal dietitian. Feedback was obtained from patients, carers and dietitians using semi structured interviews post clinic consultation. Quantitative data was analyzed using counts and proportions, while free text responses were analyzed thematically.

Results

A total of 769 unique renal diet related questions were reduced to an 18-item question prompt sheet. Feedback from thirteen patients (six males), six carers and six dietitians involved in the preliminary feasibility study was overwhelmingly positive. The majority of patients found the question prompt sheet to be easy to understand and agreed it facilitated communication with the dietitian. All participants agreed that they would recommend use of question prompt sheet to other patients. Suggestions for future use included health professional training in use of the sheet, particularly about how to help patients prioritize their most important questions.

Conclusions

The 18-item renal diet question prompt sheet developed in this preliminary study appears to be a feasible tool for use in nephrology consultations especially by dietitians. Further research quantifying the impact on question asking and patient centeredness should be undertaken. In addition, user testing with patients from culturally diverse and low literacy backgrounds would be useful.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12882-019-1231-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Nonverbal synchrony as a behavioural marker of patient and physician race-related attitudes and a predictor of outcomes in oncology interactions: protocol for a secondary analysis of video-recorded cancer treatment discussions

INTRODUCTION

Racial disparities in cancer treatment contribute to racial disparities in mortality rates. The quality of patient-physician communication during clinical interactions with black patients and non-black physicians (racially discordant) is poorer than communication quality with white patients (racially concordant). Patient and physician race-related attitudes affect the quality of this communication. These attitudes are likely expressed through subtle non-verbal behaviours, but prior research has not examined these behaviours. Nonverbal synchrony, the coordination of physical movement, reflects the preinteraction attitudes of participants in interactions and predicts their postinteraction perceptions of and affect towards one another. In this study, peer reviewed and funded by the National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities (R21MD011766), we will investigate non-verbal synchrony in racially concordant and discordant interactions to better understand racial disparities in clinical communication.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This secondary analysis includes racially concordant (n=163) and racially discordant (n=68) video-recorded oncology interactions, patient and oncologist self-reported race-related attitudes, perceptions of the interaction and observer ratings of physician patient-centred communication and patient and physician affect and rapport. In aim 1, we will assess and compare non-verbal synchrony between physicians and patients in racially concordant and discordant interactions. In aim 2, we will determine the influence of non-verbal synchrony on patient and physician affect and communication. In aim 3, we will examine possible causes (ie, race-related attitudes) and consequences (ie, negative perceptions) of non-verbal synchrony in racially discordant interactions. In aim 4, we will develop and test a mediational model linking physician and patient race-related attitudes to non-verbal synchrony and, in turn, interaction outcomes.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The parent and current studies were approved by the Wayne State University Institutional Review Board. Since only archival data will be used, ethical or safety risks are low. We will disseminate our findings to relevant conferences and journals.

Patient perspectives on racial and ethnic implicit bias in clinical encounters: Implications for curriculum development

OBJECTIVE

Patients describe feelings of bias and prejudice in clinical encounters; however, their perspectives on restoring the encounter once bias is perceived are not known. Implicit bias has emerged as a target for curricular interventions. In order to inform the design of novel patient-centered curricular interventions, this study explores patients' perceptions of bias, and suggestions for restoring relationships if bias is perceived.

METHODS

The authors conducted bilingual focus groups with purposive sampling of self-identified Black and Latino community members in the US. Data were analyzed using grounded theory.

RESULTS

Ten focus groups (in English (6) and Spanish (4)) with N = 74 participants occurred. Data analysis revealed multiple influences patients' perception of bias in their physician encounters. The theory emerging from the analysis suggests if bias is perceived, the outcome of the encounter can still be positive. A positive or negative outcome depends on whether the physician acknowledges this perceived bias or not, and his or her subsequent actions.

CONCLUSIONS

Participant lived experience and physician behaviors influence perceptions of bias, however clinical relationships can be restored following perceived bias.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Providers might benefit from skill development in the recognition and acknowledgement of perceived bias in order to restore patient-provider relationships.

Interventions for increasing the use of shared decision making by healthcare professionals

BACKGROUND

Shared decision making (SDM) is a process by which a healthcare choice is made by the patient, significant others, or both with one or more healthcare professionals. However, it has not yet been widely adopted in practice. This is the second update of this Cochrane review.

OBJECTIVES

To determine the effectiveness of interventions for increasing the use of SDM by healthcare professionals. We considered interventions targeting patients, interventions targeting healthcare professionals, and interventions targeting both.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase and five other databases on 15 June 2017. We also searched two clinical trials registries and proceedings of relevant conferences. We checked reference lists and contacted study authors to identify additional studies.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Randomized and non-randomized trials, controlled before-after studies and interrupted time series studies evaluating interventions for increasing the use of SDM in which the primary outcomes were evaluated using observer-based or patient-reported measures.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

We used standard methodological procedures expected by Cochrane.We used GRADE to assess the certainty of the evidence.

MAIN RESULTS

We included 87 studies (45,641 patients and 3113 healthcare professionals) conducted mainly in the USA, Germany, Canada and the Netherlands. Risk of bias was high or unclear for protection against contamination, low for differences in the baseline characteristics of patients, and unclear for other domains.Forty-four studies evaluated interventions targeting patients. They included decision aids, patient activation, question prompt lists and training for patients among others and were administered alone (single intervention) or in combination (multifaceted intervention). The certainty of the evidence was very low. It is uncertain if interventions targeting patients when compared with usual care increase SDM whether measured by observation (standardized mean difference (SMD) 0.54, 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.13 to 1.22; 4 studies; N = 424) or reported by patients (SMD 0.32, 95% CI 0.16 to 0.48; 9 studies; N = 1386; risk difference (RD) -0.09, 95% CI -0.19 to 0.01; 6 studies; N = 754), reduce decision regret (SMD -0.10, 95% CI -0.39 to 0.19; 1 study; N = 212), improve physical (SMD 0.00, 95% CI -0.36 to 0.36; 1 study; N = 116) or mental health-related quality of life (QOL) (SMD 0.10, 95% CI -0.26 to 0.46; 1 study; N = 116), affect consultation length (SMD 0.10, 95% CI -0.39 to 0.58; 2 studies; N = 224) or cost (SMD 0.82, 95% CI 0.42 to 1.22; 1 study; N = 105).It is uncertain if interventions targeting patients when compared with interventions of the same type increase SDM whether measured by observation (SMD 0.88, 95% CI 0.39 to 1.37; 3 studies; N = 271) or reported by patients (SMD 0.03, 95% CI -0.18 to 0.24; 11 studies; N = 1906); (RD 0.03, 95% CI -0.02 to 0.08; 10 studies; N = 2272); affect consultation length (SMD -0.65, 95% CI -1.29 to -0.00; 1 study; N = 39) or costs. No data were reported for decision regret, physical or mental health-related QOL.Fifteen studies evaluated interventions targeting healthcare professionals. They included educational meetings, educational material, educational outreach visits and reminders among others. The certainty of evidence is very low. It is uncertain if these interventions when compared with usual care increase SDM whether measured by observation (SMD 0.70, 95% CI 0.21 to 1.19; 6 studies; N = 479) or reported by patients (SMD 0.03, 95% CI -0.15 to 0.20; 5 studies; N = 5772); (RD 0.01, 95%C: -0.03 to 0.06; 2 studies; N = 6303); reduce decision regret (SMD 0.29, 95% CI 0.07 to 0.51; 1 study; N = 326), affect consultation length (SMD 0.51, 95% CI 0.21 to 0.81; 1 study, N = 175), cost (no data available) or physical health-related QOL (SMD 0.16, 95% CI -0.05 to 0.36; 1 study; N = 359). Mental health-related QOL may slightly improve (SMD 0.28, 95% CI 0.07 to 0.49; 1 study, N = 359; low-certainty evidence).It is uncertain if interventions targeting healthcare professionals compared to interventions of the same type increase SDM whether measured by observation (SMD -0.30, 95% CI -1.19 to 0.59; 1 study; N = 20) or reported by patients (SMD 0.24, 95% CI -0.10 to 0.58; 2 studies; N = 1459) as the certainty of the evidence is very low. There was insufficient information to determine the effect on decision regret, physical or mental health-related QOL, consultation length or costs.Twenty-eight studies targeted both patients and healthcare professionals. The interventions used a combination of patient-mediated and healthcare professional directed interventions. Based on low certainty evidence, it is uncertain whether these interventions, when compared with usual care, increase SDM whether measured by observation (SMD 1.10, 95% CI 0.42 to 1.79; 6 studies; N = 1270) or reported by patients (SMD 0.13, 95% CI -0.02 to 0.28; 7 studies; N = 1479); (RD -0.01, 95% CI -0.20 to 0.19; 2 studies; N = 266); improve physical (SMD 0.08, -0.37 to 0.54; 1 study; N = 75) or mental health-related QOL (SMD 0.01, -0.44 to 0.46; 1 study; N = 75), affect consultation length (SMD 3.72, 95% CI 3.44 to 4.01; 1 study; N = 36) or costs (no data available) and may make little or no difference to decision regret (SMD 0.13, 95% CI -0.08 to 0.33; 1 study; low-certainty evidence).It is uncertain whether interventions targeting both patients and healthcare professionals compared to interventions of the same type increase SDM whether measured by observation (SMD -0.29, 95% CI -1.17 to 0.60; 1 study; N = 20); (RD -0.04, 95% CI -0.13 to 0.04; 1 study; N = 134) or reported by patients (SMD 0.00, 95% CI -0.32 to 0.32; 1 study; N = 150 ) as the certainty of the evidence was very low. There was insuffient information to determine the effects on decision regret, physical or mental health-related quality of life, or consultation length or costs.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

It is uncertain whether any interventions for increasing the use of SDM by healthcare professionals are effective because the certainty of the evidence is low or very low.

The influence of affective behavior on impression formation in interactions between black cancer patients and their oncologists

OBJECTIVE

Black patients and their physicians tend to form relatively negative impressions of each other, and these may contribute to racial disparities in health outcomes. The current research tested the hypothesis that the interaction between positive and negative affective behavior predicts the most positive impressions in clinic visits between Black patients and their oncologists.

METHOD

Naïve coders rated patients' and oncologists' positive and negative affective behavior in thin slices from 74 video recorded clinic visits. We examined whether (a) physician positive affect, negative affect, or their interaction predicted patients' perceptions of patient-centeredness, trustworthiness, and confidence in recommended treatments and (b) patient positive affect, negative affect, or their interaction predicted physicians' perceptions of patient cognitive ability, likelihood of treatment adherence, and likelihood of treatment tolerance. We also tested whether affective behavior mediated relationships between race-related attitudes and post-visit impressions or influenced post-visit impressions independently of attitudes.

RESULTS

When oncologists displayed relatively high levels of both positive and negative affect, patients were more confident in recommended treatments but did not rate physicians higher in patient centeredness or trustworthiness. When patients expressed relatively high levels of positive and negative affect, oncologists perceived patients to be higher in cognitive ability and more likely to adhere to treatment recommendations, but no more likely to tolerate treatments. Affective behavior influenced impressions independently of race-related attitudes.

CONCLUSIONS

Positive and negative affective behaviors jointly contribute to impression formation in clinic visits between Black patients and oncologists, and may have implications for patient treatment and outcomes in this underserved patient population.