L Alison Phillips1, Lisa McAndrew2, Benjamin Laman-Maharg3, Katharine Bloeser4. 1. Department of Psychology, Iowa State University, Ames, USA; War Related Illness and Injury Study Center (WRIISC), Veterans Affairs New Jersey Healthcare System, East Orange, USA. Electronic address: alisonp@iastate.edu. 2. War Related Illness and Injury Study Center (WRIISC), Veterans Affairs New Jersey Healthcare System, East Orange, USA; Department of Educational and Counseling Psychology, University at Albany, Albany, USA. 3. Department of Psychology, The George Washington University, Washington, D.C., USA. 4. War Related and Injury Study Center, US Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, D.C., USA; Silberman School of Social Work, Hunter College, CUNY, NY, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Medically unexplained symptoms (MUS) are common, with particularly high rates observed in military veterans. Effective patient-provider-communication is thought to be a key aspect of care; however there have been few empirical studies on the association between communication and outcomes for patients with MUS. We evaluate whether discussing veterans' MUS-illness representations and good interpersonal skills have the potential to promote MUS-treatment adherence and improvement. METHODS: Veterans experiencing MUS (n=204) reported on their primary care providers' communication about illness representations and interpersonal skills; correlation, regression, and bootstrap-mediation analyses were conducted to test hypotheses regarding veteran-reported outcomes. Main outcomes included satisfaction with the provider, MUS-treatment adherence, intentions to adhere, and expectations for MUS improvement. RESULTS: Veterans reported infrequent discussion of MUS illness representations but high degrees of provider interpersonal skills. Communication regarding patients' illness representations and treatment expectations was significantly related to treatment adherence and adherence intentions; provider interpersonal skills were not. Both were related to veteran satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS AND PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Providers' interpersonal skills may be important in chronic illness contexts, such as MUS, by contributing to satisfaction with the provider. The current study suggests that providers may better promote MUS-treatment adherence through discussing MUS illness representations and treatment expectations.
OBJECTIVES: Medically unexplained symptoms (MUS) are common, with particularly high rates observed in military veterans. Effective patient-provider-communication is thought to be a key aspect of care; however there have been few empirical studies on the association between communication and outcomes for patients with MUS. We evaluate whether discussing veterans' MUS-illness representations and good interpersonal skills have the potential to promote MUS-treatment adherence and improvement. METHODS: Veterans experiencing MUS (n=204) reported on their primary care providers' communication about illness representations and interpersonal skills; correlation, regression, and bootstrap-mediation analyses were conducted to test hypotheses regarding veteran-reported outcomes. Main outcomes included satisfaction with the provider, MUS-treatment adherence, intentions to adhere, and expectations for MUS improvement. RESULTS: Veterans reported infrequent discussion of MUS illness representations but high degrees of provider interpersonal skills. Communication regarding patients' illness representations and treatment expectations was significantly related to treatment adherence and adherence intentions; provider interpersonal skills were not. Both were related to veteran satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS AND PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Providers' interpersonal skills may be important in chronic illness contexts, such as MUS, by contributing to satisfaction with the provider. The current study suggests that providers may better promote MUS-treatment adherence through discussing MUS illness representations and treatment expectations.
Authors: Vincent G Iannacchione; Jill A Dever; Carla M Bann; Kathleen A Considine; Darryl Creel; Christopher P Carson; Heather Best; Robert W Haley Journal: Neuroepidemiology Date: 2011-10-07 Impact factor: 3.282
Authors: William T Branch; Richard Frankel; Catherine F Gracey; Paul M Haidet; Peter F Weissmann; Paul Cantey; Gary A Mitchell; Thomas S Inui Journal: Acad Med Date: 2009-01 Impact factor: 6.893
Authors: Naomi S Kane; Nicole Anastasides; David R Litke; Drew A Helmer; Stephen C Hunt; Karen S Quigley; Wilfred R Pigeon; Lisa M McAndrew Journal: PLoS One Date: 2021-12-07 Impact factor: 3.240