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The social gradient in doctor-patient communication
Open accessAbstract
OBJECTIVE: In recent years, the importance of social differences in the physician-patient relationship has frequently been the subject of research. A 2002 review synthesised the evidence on this topic. Considering the increasing importance of social inequalities in health care, an actualization of this review seemed appropriate. METHODS: A systematic search of literature published between 1965 and 2011 on the social gradient in doctor-patient communication. In this review social class was determined by patient's income, education or occupation. RESULTS: Twenty original research papers and meta-analyses were included. Social differences in doctor-patient communication were described according to the following classification: verbal behaviour including instrumental and affective behaviour, non-verbal behaviour and patient-centred behaviour. CONCLUSION: This review indicates that the literature on the social gradient in doctor-patient communication that was published in the last decade, addresses new issues and themes. Firstly, most of the found studies emphasize the importance of the reciprocity of communication.Secondly, there seems to be a growing interest in patient's perception of doctor-patient communication. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: By increasing the doctors' awareness of the communicative differences and by empowering patients to express concerns and preferences, a more effective communication could be established.
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“However studies have found that doctor-patient communication differs depending upon the patient's SES (10).”
From High levels of socioeconomic deprivation do not inhibit patients’ communication of concerns in head and neck cancer review clinics (2018) · cites this paper as [10]
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Metadata
- Authors
- Verlinde, E., De Laender, N., De Maesschalck, S., Deveugele, M., & Willems, S.
- Affiliations
- Ghent University (BE)
- Corresponding author
- Verlinde, Evelyn
- Venue
- International Journal for Equity in Health
- Published
- 2012
- Volume
- 11
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 12
- ISSN
- 1475-9276 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC3317830
- OpenAlex
- W2008405683
- Cited by
- 307
- References
- 62
- Citations by year
- 2026: 13 · 2025: 21 · 2024: 32 · 2023: 24 · 2022: 28 · 2021: 31 · 2020: 34 · 2019: 27 · 2018: 27 · 2017: 13 · 2016: 15 · 2015: 13 · 2014: 15 · 2013: 12
- FWCI
- 2.00
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- cc-by
- Locations
- International Journal for Equity in Health (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Ghent University Academic Bibliography (Ghent University) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Patient-Provider Communication in Healthcare
- Social Sciences › Health › Health disparities and outcomes
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Interpreting and Communication in Healthcare
- Keywords
- social gradient, physician-patient communication, social class, income, occupation, verbal behavior, nonverbal behavior, patient perspectives, patient empowerment
- MeSH terms
- Acculturation, Affective Symptoms, Communication, Humans, Physician-Patient Relations, Social Behavior, Social Class, Verbal Behavior, Models, Statistical, Patient-Centered Care, Cultural Diversity, Health Status Disparities, Social Participation
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