Conference Book - Fryske Akademy

Title
The role of patient willingness to communicate in the health care experience
Susan C. Baker¹, Cindy Gallois (presenter)² , & Bernadette
Watson²
¹Cape Breton University, Canada
²The University of Queensland, Australia
36
DATE: THU 21.06
TIME: 09.30-15.10
ROOM: MADRID
BIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENT
Cindy Gallois is Emeritus Professor in psychology and communication at The University of
Queensland. She is a Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia, International
Communication Association, Society of Experimental Social Psychology, and International
Academy of Intercultural Relations, and past president of ICA, International Association of
Language and Social Psychology, and Society of Australasian Social Psychologists. Her research
encompasses intergroup communication in health, intercultural, and organisational contexts,
including the impact of communication on quality of patient care. She is particularly interested in
the role of communication accommodation through language and non-verbal behaviour in
interactions between health providers and patients, as well as among different groups of health
providers. Finally, she is interested in developing theory (including CAT) and methodology
(including visualisation techniques) in health communication.
ABSTRACT
This study represents the first in a larger project examining the role of patient willingness to
communicate in shaping health care experiences. Specifically, the study is aimed at
demonstrating that, while seeking medical services is an important part of participation in health
care, a willingness to interact with the health care provider predicts key psychological outcomes
derived from the doctor-patient relationship. In this study, we asked 195 participants to indicate
their willingness to communicate with a variety of health care providers across different health
contexts. Results show that participants who were more motivated to live a healthy lifestyle and
who perceived greater personal control were significantly more willing to communicate with their
health care providers. Further, higher willingness to communicate was significantly associated
with higher general satisfaction with health care, adherence to treatment, understanding of
information and health care options, seeking health information, perceived patient respect and
satisfaction with the doctor, nurse and access to health care. It is suggested that a patient‘s
willingness to interact with their health care provider is an important determinant of quality health
care and that promoting active patient participation is a key step in achieving positive health care
experiences.