Therapeutic conversation: expectations and results with regard to intensified physician-patient communication

Felder-Puig R, Turk E, Guba B, Wild C
Record ID 32007000103
German
Authors' objectives:

Intensified physician-patient communication, which is reimbursed in Austria as "therapeutic conversation", may lead to higher patient compliance (understanding of and adherence to physician's instructions) and a better health outcome. In this project, the question whether these expectations can be met and proven by empiric data is to be answered. Aim: A systematic review of literature addressing the effectiveness of intensified physician-patient communication should not primarily address theoretical knowledge (e.g., the expectation of higher compliance), but should focus on the summary of empirical data. The report will also include a description of how intensified physician-patient communication is established and reimbursed in comparable health care systems.

Authors' results and conclusions: The review included primarily high-quality studies (RCTs and systematic reviews of RCTs). Additionally, cohort studies, observational studies and several qualitative studies were identified. Overall, 49 publications were considered for the assessment.
Authors' recommendations: Reasonable evidence was found for the effectiveness of the therapeutic conversation on patients' self-management and satisfaction. For specific diseases/ disorders, a reduction in additional health care costs was reported. For the remaining outcome parameters, evidence was less convincing. The report also covers reimbursement regulations in selected countries. Some options for maintaining or extending the coverage are discussed, taking into account the existing study results and the problems of transferring these results to the real care situation in Austria.
Authors' methods: Systematic review
Details
Project Status: Completed
URL for project: http://eprints.hta.lbg.ac.at/22/
Year Published: 2006
English language abstract: An English language summary is available
Publication Type: Not Assigned
Country: Austria
MeSH Terms
  • Austria
  • Communication
  • Physician-Patient Relations
Contact
Organisation Name: Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Health Technology Assessment
Contact Address: Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for fuer Health Technology Assessment (LBI-HTA), Garnisongasse 7/rechte Stiege Mezzanin (Top 20), 1090 Vienna, Austria. Tel: +43 1 236 8119 - 0 Fax: +43 1 236 8119 - 99
Contact Name: tarquin.mittermayr@aihta.at
Contact Email: office@aihta.at
This is a bibliographic record of a published health technology assessment from a member of INAHTA or other HTA producer. No evaluation of the quality of this assessment has been made for the HTA database.