Some observations on provider-patient communication research.

This article presents reflections on, and suggestions for, research on provider-patient communication. These include: (1) the need for more precise causal analysis, (2) considerations when doing moderator analysis, (3) the need to study values concordance between providers and patients, (4) the relative neglect of studying provider attitudes, emotions, and characteristics, (5) the potential value of studying providers' sensitivity to their patients, and (6) the importance of studying patients' impact on providers. Finally, the field is challenged to ask and answer the questions: why do we do this research and how is it being used?