The purpose of this study was to describe physician-patient communication about antidepressant medications using a data set comprised of audio-tapes and transcripts of 427 primary care medical visits. The data set was collected during 1995 at the family practice and general medicine clinics at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center. Twenty-seven resident physicians and 427 of their adult patients participated. Fifty-seven percent of the patient sample was Hispanic and 34 percent was non-Hispanic white. Sixty-seven percent of the patient sample was female. Twenty-seven percent of the patient sample were on antidepressant medications on the day of the audio-taped visit according to the patients' medical records. Preliminary results indicate that 76 percent of patients on antidepressants discussed them with their physicians on the day of the audio-taped visit. Physicians were more likely to discuss antidepressant medications with non- Hispanic white patients (84% ) than Hispanic patients (71%). Physicians asked an average of 1.87 questions and gave an average of 3.53 pieces of information about antidepressants per encounter. Physicians were most likely to ask questions about what antidepressants the patient is taking, the timing of medication taking, and how well the medication is working. Physicians were most likely to give information about what medication the patient is taking, dose, purpose, and side effects. Physicians were least likely to discuss duration of antidepressant use. Patients asked an average of 0.89 questions per encounter. Patients were most likely to ask questions about side effects and technical information about the medication.
Learning Objectives: a. Describe the extent of physician and patient question asking and information giving about antidepressants during primary care medical encounters. b. Identify differences in physician-patient communication about antidepressants among Hispanic and non-Hispanic white patients
Keywords: Hispanic, Mental Health
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.