Higher BMI associated with shorter visits in male oncology patients: An exploratory analysis. Issue 12 (December 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tilburt, Jon C; O Byrne, Thomas; Branda, Megan E; Phelan, Sean
• Is Part Of: Patient education and counseling. Volume 102:Issue 12(2019)
• Page Start: 2353
• Page End: 2357
• Publication Date: 2019-12
• Subjects: Patient-physician communication -- Patient-centeredness; 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.2019.07.009
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0738-3991

Abstract

Highlights: There is a potential association between BMI and duration of visit for men but not for women. This analysis failed to identify differences by BMI in patient-centered communication patterns in cancer care. Preliminary data suggest that the care of obese patients in routine cancer care delivery deserves further investigation Abstract: Objective: To determine the potential relationship between measures of patient-provider communication and patient body mass index (BMI) and gender in cancer care. Methods: We audio-recorded cancer patients' communication with their clinicians in an academic medical oncology practice from 2012-2014. We coded audio-recordings with the Roter Interaction Analysis System. We then examined whether BMI was associated with patient centeredness, time with doctor, global affect, and patient self-reported communication quality. Univariate associations with BMI were assessed with Chi-square and Kruskal-Wallis tests. A cumulative logit model adjusted for patient and visit characteristics in a multivariable model. Results: We recorded 327 patient interactions with 37 clinicians. After adjusting for patient sex, and visit characteristics, visit length, patient-centeredness, global affect (patient or clinician) and satisfaction did not differ. However, higher BMI was associated with shorter visit length, and lower Negative Global Affect (p = 0.03 and p = 0.03, respectively) in men only. Conclusion: In this exploratory analysis, communication characteristics did not vary by patient BMI overall. However, in men, higher BMI was associated with shorter visit length and more negative affect. Those differences did not persist after adjusting for multiple comparisons. Practice Implications: Patient body size may contribute to clinical communication in cancer care, particularly for obese men.