The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #55356

Betsy Lynn Sleath, PhD¹, Leigh Callahan, PhD, Shannon Currey, PhD³, Robert F. Devellis, PhD³, Jennifer Milan, MPH⁴, and Philip Sloane, MD⁵. (1) School of Pharmacy Beard Hall, University of North Carolina, CB # 7360, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7360, 919-304-4552, betsy_sleath@unc.edu, (2) Thurston Arthritis Center, University of North Carolina, CB # 7280, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, (3) Thurston Arthtritis Center, University of North Carolina, CB # 7280, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, (4) Family Medicine, University of North Carolina, CB #7585, Chapel Hill, NC 27599

The purpose of the study was to examine the extent to which family practice patients rated their physicians as using a participatory decision-making (PDM) style and to investigate the relationship between PDM style and whether patients told their physicians about their CAM use. Over a one-month period, consecutive adult patients at 16 family practice sites (FPS) in rural and urban areas were asked to complete a self-report questionnaire assessing health-related and socio-demographic variables. 4760 individuals participated-62% of eligible patients. 56% of the sample reported arthritis and/or muscle pain. In spring 2002, the 2178 individuals in this group who agreed to further participation were contacted via phone and/or mailed survey. 1296 surveys have been completed to date (60% response rate). 20% of patients were African American, 75% were female, and the mean age of patients was 54 (range 19 to 97). Younger patients, more educated patients, and patients with fibromyalgia rated their physicians as being more participatory. 55% of patients reported telling their physicians about CAM use. Logistic regression results indicated that PDM style, educational level, and patient rating of physical health on the SF-12 were related to whether patients told their physicians about their use of CAM. Patients were more likely to tell their physicians about their CAM use if their physicians used a more participatory style. More educated patients and patients in better physical health were more likely to tell their physicians about CAM use. Physician trust was not related to whether patients told their doctors about CAM use. The findings suggest that physician use of a more participatory style could improve communication about CAM.

Learning Objectives:

• To understand the extent to which physicians use a participatory style when interacting with arthritis patients.
• To describe how physician use of a participatory style is related to patients discussing their use of CAM.

Keywords: Communication, Primary Care

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.