Objective: To use audiotape and transcript analysis to describe resident physician-patient communication about alternative medicine during primary care medical visits. Setting: The family practice and general medicine clinics at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center. Participants: Twenty-seven resident physicians and 414 of their adult patients. Results: Approximately 12% of patients discussed alternative medicines with their physicians. Patients who rated their health poorly and who reported using an alternative medicine in the past month were significantly more likely to discuss alternative medicine with their physician. Eighty-one percent of patients who reported using an alternative medicine in the past month did not tell their physician. Physicians asked questions about alternative medicine during only 5.3% of encounters. Patients asked questions about alternative medicine during only 1.4 % of encounters. Physicians and patients rarely discussed the side effects, contraindications, or potential interactions of alternative medicines. Physicians stated negative reinforcement during only 6 % of encounters and positive reinforcement during 22 % of encounters where alternative medicines were discussed. Conslusion:These findings can be used to develop educational programs aimed at improving physician-patient communication in this area.
Learning Objectives: 1. Describe the extent of physician-patient communication about alternative medicines 2. Identify what patient and physician characteristics influenced physician-patient communication about alternative medicine
Keywords: Alternative Medicine/Therapies, Communication
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.