Perception of patients with multiple chronic conditions in the U.S. regarding their communication with healthcare providers
Abstract
Background: Given the growing number of patients with multiple chronic conditions (MCCs), patient-centered communication has become a critical element to improving health outcomes and reducing health disparities. The aim of this study was to assess how patients’ demographic and other characteristics were related to their perception of communication and to explore to what extent the perception was affected by MCCs.
Methods: We extracted data from the nationally representative 2019 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS). Nine chronic conditions were selected based on criteria from CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and measured using the responses of corresponding survey items (e.g., have you ever been told by a doctor or other health professional that you have diabetes?). Patients’ perception of communication was measured using the responses of relevant 4 survey items (e.g., how often health providers listened carefully to you?). Demographic and other characteristics included age, sex, race, ethnicity, income, education, insurance, and marital status. Descriptive analyses were conducted to characterize the perception of communication by the patients’ characteristics as well as by co-occurrence of chronic conditions. We also developed regression models to investigate the effects of MCCs on the patients’ perception of communication.
Results: Overall, patients rated their communication positively across all four measures, and the likelihood of positive perceptions were higher among older patients, patients with insurance, higher educational attainment, and higher income. The relationships of patients’ demographic and socio-economic factors to their perception of communication were disproportionally affected by MCCs.
Conclusion: Building an accurate understanding of patient’s perception of their communication with healthcare providers may be useful to provide the optimal patient care that is more responsive to the needs of patients with multimorbidity.
Keywords
chronic diseases, communication, patient-centered care, physician-patient relationship
Perception of patients with multiple chronic conditions in the U.S. regarding their communication with healthcare providers
Background: Given the growing number of patients with multiple chronic conditions (MCCs), patient-centered communication has become a critical element to improving health outcomes and reducing health disparities. The aim of this study was to assess how patients’ demographic and other characteristics were related to their perception of communication and to explore to what extent the perception was affected by MCCs.
Methods: We extracted data from the nationally representative 2019 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS). Nine chronic conditions were selected based on criteria from CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and measured using the responses of corresponding survey items (e.g., have you ever been told by a doctor or other health professional that you have diabetes?). Patients’ perception of communication was measured using the responses of relevant 4 survey items (e.g., how often health providers listened carefully to you?). Demographic and other characteristics included age, sex, race, ethnicity, income, education, insurance, and marital status. Descriptive analyses were conducted to characterize the perception of communication by the patients’ characteristics as well as by co-occurrence of chronic conditions. We also developed regression models to investigate the effects of MCCs on the patients’ perception of communication.
Results: Overall, patients rated their communication positively across all four measures, and the likelihood of positive perceptions were higher among older patients, patients with insurance, higher educational attainment, and higher income. The relationships of patients’ demographic and socio-economic factors to their perception of communication were disproportionally affected by MCCs.
Conclusion: Building an accurate understanding of patient’s perception of their communication with healthcare providers may be useful to provide the optimal patient care that is more responsive to the needs of patients with multimorbidity.
