Aidoo Ebenezer Ato Kwamena, Wood Sandra Freda, Issaka Barikisu, Agyapong William Ofosu
Communication Studies Department, University of Iowa, Iowa City, US.
Department of Human Communication, Arizona State University, Tempe, US.
Sci Rep. 2025 Apr 7;15(1):11885. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-97536-9.
While patient-centered communication (PCC) has been recognized for its potential to enhance health and well-being, existing research presents mixed findings, partly due to limited attention to intermediary processes. Additionally, disparities in communication quality leave minority populations at a disadvantage, experiencing less effective communication and lower levels of patient-centeredness. This study addresses these gaps by examining how different PCC functions influence both general and mental health outcomes within minority populations. Furthermore, it investigates the role of health competence as a potential mediator, given its importance in navigating the healthcare system. This study used secondary data from four iterations spanning from 2011 to 2022 (HINTS 4 Cycle 1 - 2011, HINTS 5 Cycle 1 - 2017, HINTS 5 Cycle 4 - 2020, HINTS 6 Cycle 1 - 2022) with a sample size of n = 5501, focusing exclusively on individuals from minority racial backgrounds. The study used ANOVA, chi-square tests, and multiple linear regressions to investigate how different PCC functions and sociodemographic factors affect general health, health competence, and mental health within these populations. The present study revealed that PCC has varying impacts on the reporting of general and mental health within minority populations. Although we observed positive associations, they were not consistent across all the patients. In certain years, specific PCC dimensions demonstrated significant relationships with mental health, emphasizing their influence on mental well-being. Health competence emerged as a crucial mediator between PCC and health outcomes, particularly in terms of general health. This study provides valuable insights into the relationships between PCC and health competence and health outcomes among minority populations. These findings emphasize the importance of tailored healthcare approaches for minority populations, recognizing the multifaceted nature of healthcare interactions.
虽然以患者为中心的沟通（PCC）因其对增进健康和福祉的潜力而得到认可，但现有研究结果不一，部分原因是对中间过程的关注有限。此外，沟通质量的差异使少数族裔处于不利地位，他们经历的沟通效果较差，以患者为中心的程度也较低。本研究通过考察不同的PCC功能如何影响少数族裔群体的总体健康和心理健康结果来填补这些空白。此外，鉴于健康能力在应对医疗系统方面的重要性，本研究还调查了其作为潜在中介的作用。本研究使用了2011年至2022年四个阶段的二手数据（健康信息全国趋势调查第4周期第1轮 - 2011年，健康信息全国趋势调查第5周期第1轮 - 2017年，健康信息全国趋势调查第5周期第4轮 - 2020年，健康信息全国趋势调查第6周期第1轮 - 2022年），样本量为n = 5501，仅关注少数族裔背景的个体。该研究使用方差分析、卡方检验和多元线性回归来调查不同的PCC功能和社会人口学因素如何影响这些人群的总体健康、健康能力和心理健康。本研究表明，PCC对少数族裔群体总体健康和心理健康报告有不同影响。虽然我们观察到了积极关联，但并非在所有患者中都一致。在某些年份，特定的PCC维度与心理健康表现出显著关系，强调了它们对心理健康的影响。健康能力成为PCC与健康结果之间的关键中介，特别是在总体健康方面。本研究为少数族裔群体中PCC与健康能力及健康结果之间的关系提供了有价值的见解。这些发现强调了为少数族裔群体量身定制医疗保健方法的重要性，认识到医疗互动的多面性。
