Credits: 3
Prerequisites: None
Corequisites: None
This graduate seminar is concerned with how communication scholars have contributed to (and can best contribute to) the study of patient-provider communication and ultimately better patient-provider relationships. What transpires during the clinic visit can have a profound effect on how patients understand their health concerns, make healthcare decisions, and effectively achieve desired health outcomes. This course introduces students to the field and findings of patient-provider communication starting with the historical and social climates influencing patient-provider partnerships.
Learning Objectives
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
- Evaluate how patient-provider relationship models define roles and shape communication.
- Compare and contrast different methodological approaches to measuring patient-provider communication.
- Explain how specific communicative features of patient-provider interactions (e.g., question designs) impact clinical communication, relationships, and outcomes.
- Explain how observing and analyzing naturalistic clinic interactions enhances understanding of patient-provider communication.