Does Communication Effectiveness Assessed by Communication Scholars Correlate with Patient Perception of Clinician Empathy?

In a prior study, communication scholar ratings of clinician communication effectiveness did not correlate with perceived clinician empathy, which is one aspect of patient experience. We repeated the analysis with a different rating of communication effectiveness to increase confidence that the lack...

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Main Authors: Haley Ponce BS, Rafael Cordero BS, Jacinta Tran BS, Natalie Wellman BS, David Ring BS
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2025-02-01
Series:Journal of Patient Experience
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1177/23743735251323674
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author Haley Ponce BS
Rafael Cordero BS
Jacinta Tran BS
Natalie Wellman BS
David Ring BS
author_facet Haley Ponce BS
Rafael Cordero BS
Jacinta Tran BS
Natalie Wellman BS
David Ring BS
author_sort Haley Ponce BS
collection DOAJ
description In a prior study, communication scholar ratings of clinician communication effectiveness did not correlate with perceived clinician empathy, which is one aspect of patient experience. We repeated the analysis with a different rating of communication effectiveness to increase confidence that the lack of association was not due to an inadequate rating tool. Video-recorded visits (108) were rated by 3 trained observers using the Communication Quality Analysis with acceptable reliability. Patients completed measures of perceived clinician empathy, pain accommodation, health anxiety, and depression symptoms. Negative binomial regression analysis sought factors associated with perceived clinician empathy. Only accommodation of pain met the criterion for entry into a multivariable model for perceived clinician empathy (ρ = 0.17; P  = .08). No factors were associated with perceived clinician empathy, including independently rated communication effectiveness. The consistent finding of no correlation between communication effectiveness and patient perception clinician empathy using a second rating tool does not diminish the importance of effective patient–clinician communication, but it does reinforce the need to identify suitable measures of modifiable factors associated with poor patient experience.
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spelling doaj-art-49ee348c49b34dfaaad940978e1184d22025-08-20T02:14:44ZengSAGE PublishingJournal of Patient Experience2374-37432025-02-011210.1177/23743735251323674Does Communication Effectiveness Assessed by Communication Scholars Correlate with Patient Perception of Clinician Empathy?Haley Ponce BS0Rafael Cordero BS1Jacinta Tran BS2Natalie Wellman BS3David Ring BS4 Department of Surgery and Perioperative Care, , Austin, TX, USA Department of Surgery and Perioperative Care, , Austin, TX, USA Moody School of Communication, , Austin, TX, USA Moody School of Communication, , Austin, TX, USA Department of Surgery and Perioperative Care, , Austin, TX, USAIn a prior study, communication scholar ratings of clinician communication effectiveness did not correlate with perceived clinician empathy, which is one aspect of patient experience. We repeated the analysis with a different rating of communication effectiveness to increase confidence that the lack of association was not due to an inadequate rating tool. Video-recorded visits (108) were rated by 3 trained observers using the Communication Quality Analysis with acceptable reliability. Patients completed measures of perceived clinician empathy, pain accommodation, health anxiety, and depression symptoms. Negative binomial regression analysis sought factors associated with perceived clinician empathy. Only accommodation of pain met the criterion for entry into a multivariable model for perceived clinician empathy (ρ = 0.17; P  = .08). No factors were associated with perceived clinician empathy, including independently rated communication effectiveness. The consistent finding of no correlation between communication effectiveness and patient perception clinician empathy using a second rating tool does not diminish the importance of effective patient–clinician communication, but it does reinforce the need to identify suitable measures of modifiable factors associated with poor patient experience.https://doi.org/10.1177/23743735251323674
spellingShingle Haley Ponce BS
Rafael Cordero BS
Jacinta Tran BS
Natalie Wellman BS
David Ring BS
Does Communication Effectiveness Assessed by Communication Scholars Correlate with Patient Perception of Clinician Empathy?
Journal of Patient Experience
title Does Communication Effectiveness Assessed by Communication Scholars Correlate with Patient Perception of Clinician Empathy?
title_full Does Communication Effectiveness Assessed by Communication Scholars Correlate with Patient Perception of Clinician Empathy?
title_fullStr Does Communication Effectiveness Assessed by Communication Scholars Correlate with Patient Perception of Clinician Empathy?
title_full_unstemmed Does Communication Effectiveness Assessed by Communication Scholars Correlate with Patient Perception of Clinician Empathy?
title_short Does Communication Effectiveness Assessed by Communication Scholars Correlate with Patient Perception of Clinician Empathy?
title_sort does communication effectiveness assessed by communication scholars correlate with patient perception of clinician empathy
url https://doi.org/10.1177/23743735251323674
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