Nonverbal Synchrony: An Indicator of Clinical Communication Quality in Racially-Concordant and Racially-Discordant Oncology Interactions
Objectives The aim of this cross-sectional study was to apply a novel software to measure and compare levels of nonverbal synchrony, as a potential indicator of communication quality, in video recordings of racially-concordant and racially-discordant oncology interactions. Predictions include that t...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SAGE Publishing
2022-07-01
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| Series: | Cancer Control |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1177/10732748221113905 |
| _version_ | 1797838521698877440 |
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| author | Lauren M. Hamel Robert Moulder Fabian T. Ramseyer Louis A. Penner Terrance L. Albrecht Steven Boker Susan Eggly |
| author_facet | Lauren M. Hamel Robert Moulder Fabian T. Ramseyer Louis A. Penner Terrance L. Albrecht Steven Boker Susan Eggly |
| author_sort | Lauren M. Hamel |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objectives The aim of this cross-sectional study was to apply a novel software to measure and compare levels of nonverbal synchrony, as a potential indicator of communication quality, in video recordings of racially-concordant and racially-discordant oncology interactions. Predictions include that the levels of nonverbal synchrony will be greater during racially-concordant interactions than racially-discordant interactions, and that levels of nonverbal synchrony will be associated with traditional measures of communication quality in both racially-concordant and racially-discordant interactions. Design This is a secondary observational analysis of video-recorded oncology treatment discussions collected from 2 previous studies. Setting Two National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers and another large urban cancer center. Participants Participants from Study 1 include 161 White patients with cancer and 11 White medical oncologists. Participants from Study 2 include 66 Black/African-American patients with cancer and 17 non-Black medical oncologists. In both studies inclusion criteria for patients was a recent cancer diagnosis; in Study 2 inclusion criteria was identifying as Black/African American. Main outcome measures Nonverbal synchrony and communication quality. Results Greater levels of nonverbal synchrony were observed in racially-discordant interactions than in racially-concordant interactions. Levels of nonverbal synchrony were associated with indicators of communication quality, and these associations were more consistently found in racially-discordant interactions. Conclusion This study advances clinical communication and disparities research by successfully applying a novel approach capturing the unconscious nature of communication, and revealing differences in communication in racially-discordant and racially-concordant oncology interactions. This study highlights the need for further exploration of nonverbal aspects relevant to patient-physician interactions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T15:42:12Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9545672a9aa94bbfbfee17e889ec0244 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1526-2359 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T15:42:12Z |
| publishDate | 2022-07-01 |
| publisher | SAGE Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cancer Control |
| spelling | doaj.art-9545672a9aa94bbfbfee17e889ec02442023-04-27T07:34:14ZengSAGE PublishingCancer Control1526-23592022-07-012910.1177/10732748221113905Nonverbal Synchrony: An Indicator of Clinical Communication Quality in Racially-Concordant and Racially-Discordant Oncology InteractionsLauren M. HamelRobert MoulderFabian T. RamseyerLouis A. PennerTerrance L. AlbrechtSteven BokerSusan EgglyObjectives The aim of this cross-sectional study was to apply a novel software to measure and compare levels of nonverbal synchrony, as a potential indicator of communication quality, in video recordings of racially-concordant and racially-discordant oncology interactions. Predictions include that the levels of nonverbal synchrony will be greater during racially-concordant interactions than racially-discordant interactions, and that levels of nonverbal synchrony will be associated with traditional measures of communication quality in both racially-concordant and racially-discordant interactions. Design This is a secondary observational analysis of video-recorded oncology treatment discussions collected from 2 previous studies. Setting Two National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers and another large urban cancer center. Participants Participants from Study 1 include 161 White patients with cancer and 11 White medical oncologists. Participants from Study 2 include 66 Black/African-American patients with cancer and 17 non-Black medical oncologists. In both studies inclusion criteria for patients was a recent cancer diagnosis; in Study 2 inclusion criteria was identifying as Black/African American. Main outcome measures Nonverbal synchrony and communication quality. Results Greater levels of nonverbal synchrony were observed in racially-discordant interactions than in racially-concordant interactions. Levels of nonverbal synchrony were associated with indicators of communication quality, and these associations were more consistently found in racially-discordant interactions. Conclusion This study advances clinical communication and disparities research by successfully applying a novel approach capturing the unconscious nature of communication, and revealing differences in communication in racially-discordant and racially-concordant oncology interactions. This study highlights the need for further exploration of nonverbal aspects relevant to patient-physician interactions.https://doi.org/10.1177/10732748221113905 |
| spellingShingle | Lauren M. Hamel Robert Moulder Fabian T. Ramseyer Louis A. Penner Terrance L. Albrecht Steven Boker Susan Eggly Nonverbal Synchrony: An Indicator of Clinical Communication Quality in Racially-Concordant and Racially-Discordant Oncology Interactions Cancer Control |
| title | Nonverbal Synchrony: An Indicator of Clinical Communication Quality in Racially-Concordant and Racially-Discordant Oncology Interactions |
| title_full | Nonverbal Synchrony: An Indicator of Clinical Communication Quality in Racially-Concordant and Racially-Discordant Oncology Interactions |
| title_fullStr | Nonverbal Synchrony: An Indicator of Clinical Communication Quality in Racially-Concordant and Racially-Discordant Oncology Interactions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Nonverbal Synchrony: An Indicator of Clinical Communication Quality in Racially-Concordant and Racially-Discordant Oncology Interactions |
| title_short | Nonverbal Synchrony: An Indicator of Clinical Communication Quality in Racially-Concordant and Racially-Discordant Oncology Interactions |
| title_sort | nonverbal synchrony an indicator of clinical communication quality in racially concordant and racially discordant oncology interactions |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1177/10732748221113905 |
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