Date of Graduation
5-2014
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts in Communication (MA)
Degree Level
Graduate
Department
Communication
Advisor/Mentor
Patricia Amason
Committee Member
Lynne Webb
Second Committee Member
Robert Brady
Keywords
Communication, Culture, Diversity, Patient-provider, Training
Abstract
This study investigates the role of culture in patient-provider interactions. Physicians in Northwest Arkansas were interviewed on their experiences with cultural differences in interactions with patients. Analysis using Grounded Theory methodology indicated that physicians define culture in various ways and the majority view culture as negatively impacting their interactions. The results from this study also reveal that physicians received minimal training in their medical education on how to handle these cultural differences and instead have learned on-the-job through trial and error methods. Finally, the research concludes that many of the physicians interviewed perceived deficits in training and offered suggestions on how to improve training and ultimately the patient-provider interaction through future communication.
Citation
Allison, H. O. (2014). Patient-Provider Interaction: Person Centered Approaches to Patient Diversity and Evidence for Training. Graduate Theses and Dissertations Retrieved from https://scholarworks.uark.edu/etd/2270