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OpenTrials
Completed

NCT Number: NCT03464110

Communication Coaching to Improve Patient and Clinician Satisfaction in Cardiology Encounters

The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of a clinician communication coaching intervention versus control on an objective measure of the quality of communication (primary outcome) and patients' perceptions of the quality of patient-centered care (secondary outcome), both overall and within Black and White patients.

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Key information

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States

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About this study

The investigators propose a two-arm cluster randomized controlled design, in which the unit of randomization is the clinician. Up to fifty cardiology clinicians will be randomly assigned to either the coaching intervention or to a control condition. The investigators will recruit up to 50 clinicians to ensure that we have at least 40 clinicians with complete pre- and post-intervention measures. Although the unit of randomization is the clinician, the unit of evaluation is the patient: 10 patients per clinician who get cardiology care from the enrolled clinicians will consent to audio-recording of their encounters and to completing the surveys. Clinicians randomized to the intervention will obtain verbal consent from additional patients to audio-record the encounter for coaching. The intervention will be delivered in the clinic or via video-conference (Skype or Facetime), providing individual coaching and professional feedback on the communication behaviors encounters. The investigators will also measure Press Ganey scores by clinician pre- and post-intervention.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Patients must be 18 years or older
  • Must be able to read
  • Must speak English
  • Capable of providing informed consent
  • Must be receiving continuity care from and enrolled clinician

Exclusion criteria

  • Currently hospitalized
  • Awaiting heart transplant

Treatment and study plan

communication intervention

Behavioral

. The intervention will contain elements of Motivational Interviewing coaching but also will teach providers how to address patient emotion and increase the efficiency of their visits. Clinicians randomized to the intervention will receive a tailored communication coaching intervention that includes didactic elements, audio recording encounters and providing feedback, and role-playing.

Primary outcomes

  1. Cardiologist Behavior as Measured by WISER (Writing, Immersive Experiences, Speaking, Ethical Communication, and Research) Assessment.

    Time frame: One encounter, up to approximately 1 hour

    WISER is based on established codebooks (i.e., Motivational Interviewing Treatment Integrity manual, and Suchman's codebook for patient emotion and physician empathic responses). Communication coaches taught five skills: 1) sitting down and making eye contact with all in the room, 2) open-ended questions, 3) reflective statements, 4) empathic statements, and 5) "What questions do you have?". Reported here is the number of Reflective Statements made.

  2. Cardiologist Behavior as Measured by WISER (Writing, Immersive Experiences, Speaking, Ethical Communication, and Research) Assessment.

    Time frame: One encounter, up to approximately 1 hour

    WISER is based on established codebooks (i.e., Motivational Interviewing Treatment Integrity manual, and Suchman's codebook for patient emotion and physician empathic responses). Communication coaches taught five skills: 1) sitting down and making eye contact with all in the room, 2) open-ended questions, 3) reflective statements, 4) empathic statements, and 5) "What questions do you have?". Reported here is the number of Open-ended Questions asked.

  3. Ratio of Empathic Responses to Empathic Opportunities

    Time frame: One encounter, up to approximately 1 hour

    Communication coaches taught five skills: 1) sitting down and making eye contact with all in the room, 2) open-ended questions, 3) reflective statements, 4) empathic statements, and 5) "What questions do you have?". Reported here is the ratio of empathic responses to empathic opportunities.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Global Ratings of Communication as Measured by WISER (Writing, Immersive Experiences, Speaking, Ethical Communication, and Research) Assessment

    Time frame: One encounter, up to approximately 1 hour

    Global ratings represent areas of effective communication that address many domains of patient-centered communication or areas that facilitate patient satisfaction with communication. WISER is based on established codebooks (i.e., Motivational Interviewing Treatment Integrity manual, and Suchman's codebook for patient emotion and physician empathic responses. Scores of 1-5 with 3 being average, 1 being below average, 5 being above average.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Duke University

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2018
Primary completion
2021
Study completion
2021
First posted
Mar 13, 2018
Registry last updated
May 28, 2024

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.