Associations between thin slice ratings of affect and rapport and perceived patient-centeredness in primary care: Comparison of audio and video recordings. Issue 6 (June 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Henry, Stephen G.; Penner, Louis A.; Eggly, Susan
• Is Part Of: Patient education and counseling. Volume 100:Issue 6(2017)
• Page Start: 1128
• Page End: 1135
• Publication Date: 2017-06
• Subjects: Affect -- Rapport -- Physician-patient relations -- Video recording -- Audio recording -- Patient-centered care -- Thin slices -- Primary care; Patient education -- Periodicals; Health counseling -- Periodicals; Health education -- Periodicals; Counseling -- Periodicals; Patient Education -- Periodicals; Éducation des patients -- Périodiques; Counseling -- Périodiques; Éducation sanitaire -- Périodiques; 615.5071
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pec.2016.12.020
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0738-3991

Abstract

Highlights: Observers rated affect and rapport using thin slices of primary care visits. Ratings based on audio and video recordings were analyzed and compared. Physician positive affect predicted patient-centeredness for audio & video excerpts. Patient-physician rapport predicted patient-centeredness for audio excerpts only. Ratings of video versus audio thin slices were highly correlated. Abstract: Objective: To investigate associations between ratings of "thin slices" from recorded clinic visits and perceived patient-centeredness; to compare ratings from video recordings (sound and images) versus audio recordings (sound only). Methods: We analyzed 133 video-recorded primary care visits and patient perceptions of patient-centeredness. Observers rated thirty-second thin slices on variables assessing patient affect, physician affect, and patient-physician rapport. Video and audio ratings were collected independently. Results: In multivariable analyses, ratings of physician positive affect (but not patient positive affect) were significantly positively associated with perceived patient-centeredness using both video and audio thin slices. Patient-physician rapport was significantly positively associated with perceived patient-centeredness using audio, but not video thin slices. Ratings from video and audio thin slices were highly correlated and had similar underlying factor structures. Conclusion: Physician (but not patient) positive affect is significantly associated with perceptions of patient-centeredness and can be measured reliably using either video or audio thin slices. Additional studies are needed to determine whether ratings of patient-physician rapport are associated with perceived patient-centeredness. Practice implications: Observer ratings of physician positive affect have a meaningful positive association with patients' perceptions of patient-centeredness. Patients appear to be highly attuned to physician positive affect during patient-physician interactions.