Communication Coaching to Improve Patient and Clinician Satisfaction in Cardiology Encounters

NCT03464110 | Completed Results

• 1 other identifier: Pro00091691
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 280
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 2

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of a clinician communication coaching intervention versus control on an objective measure of the quality of communication (primary outcome) and patients' perceptions of the quality of patient-centered care (secondary outcome), both overall and within Black and White patients.

Conditions

Improved Communication Between Clinician and Patient

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Cardiologist Behavior as Measured by WISER (Writing, Immersive Experiences, Speaking, Ethical Communication, and Research) Assessment.

  WISER is based on established codebooks (i.e., Motivational Interviewing Treatment Integrity manual, and Suchman's codebook for patient emotion and physician empathic responses). Communication coaches taught five skills: 1) sitting down and making eye contact with all in the room, 2) open-ended questions, 3) reflective statements, 4) empathic statements, and 5) "What questions do you have?". Reported here is the number of Reflective Statements made.

  One encounter, up to approximately 1 hour

• Cardiologist Behavior as Measured by WISER (Writing, Immersive Experiences, Speaking, Ethical Communication, and Research) Assessment.

  WISER is based on established codebooks (i.e., Motivational Interviewing Treatment Integrity manual, and Suchman's codebook for patient emotion and physician empathic responses). Communication coaches taught five skills: 1) sitting down and making eye contact with all in the room, 2) open-ended questions, 3) reflective statements, 4) empathic statements, and 5) "What questions do you have?". Reported here is the number of Open-ended Questions asked.

  One encounter, up to approximately 1 hour

• Ratio of Empathic Responses to Empathic Opportunities

  Communication coaches taught five skills: 1) sitting down and making eye contact with all in the room, 2) open-ended questions, 3) reflective statements, 4) empathic statements, and 5) "What questions do you have?". Reported here is the ratio of empathic responses to empathic opportunities.

  One encounter, up to approximately 1 hour

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Global Ratings of Communication as Measured by WISER (Writing, Immersive Experiences, Speaking, Ethical Communication, and Research) Assessment

  One encounter, up to approximately 1 hour

Study Arms (2)

Standard of Care

NO INTERVENTION

Investigator will compare patients randomized into the intervention group to those who receive standard of care.

Communication Intervention

EXPERIMENTAL

The intervention will contain elements of Motivational Interviewing coaching but also will teach providers how to address patient emotion and increase the efficiency of their visits. Clinicians randomized to the intervention will receive a tailored communication coaching intervention that includes didactic elements, audio recording encounters and providing feedback, and role-playing.

Behavioral: Communication Intervention

Interventions

Communication Intervention BEHAVIORAL

. The intervention will contain elements of Motivational Interviewing coaching but also will teach providers how to address patient emotion and increase the efficiency of their visits. Clinicians randomized to the intervention will receive a tailored communication coaching intervention that includes didactic elements, audio recording encounters and providing feedback, and role-playing.

Communication Intervention

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Patients must be 18 years or older
• Must be able to read
• Must speak English
• Capable of providing informed consent
• Must be receiving continuity care from and enrolled clinician

You may not qualify if:

• Currently hospitalized
• Awaiting heart transplant

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Duke University: lead

Study Sites (2)

Duke University Medical Center

Durham, North Carolina, 27705, United States

Location

Duke University Medical Center - Cancer Prevention, Detection and Control

Durham, North Carolina, 27710, United States

Location

Related Publications (1)

• Pollak KI, Olsen MK, Yang H, Prose N, Jackson LR 2nd, Pinheiro SO, Dunbar TK, Johnson KS. Effect of a Coaching Intervention to Improve Cardiologist Communication: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Intern Med. 2023 Jun 1;183(6):544-553. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2023.0629.

  PMID: 37036721 DERIVED

Results Point of Contact

• Title: Dr. Kathryn Pollak
• Organization: Duke University

kathryn.pollak@duke.edu

919-681-4757

Study Officials

• Kathryn Pollak, PhD

  Duke University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Publication Agreements

• PI is Sponsor Employee: Yes

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Model Details: Interventional: To determine the effect of a clinician communication coaching intervention versus control on an objective measure of the quality of communication (primary outcome) and patients' perceptions of the quality of patient-centered care (secondary outcome), both overall and within Black and White patients.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: March 5, 2018
• First Posted: March 13, 2018
• Study Start: October 2, 2018
• Primary Completion: November 12, 2021
• Study Completion: November 15, 2021
• Last Updated: May 28, 2024
• Results First Posted: May 28, 2024

Record last verified: 2024-05

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (2)