Week 7. Computer-Mediated Doctor-Patient Communication

What is considered the main ingredient in medical care according to Ong et al. (1995)?

Communication between doctors and patients.

What are the three purposes of doctor-patient communication? (Ong et al., 1995)

1. Relationship building

2. Information exchange

3. Shared decision making (SDM)

What does relationship building in doctor-patient communication involve?

• Good bedside manners

• Therapeutic qualities

• Patient-centeredness

Why is relationship building important in healthcare communication?

It helps patients feel understood and supported, which improves trust, satisfaction, and treatment outcomes.

What information does the doctor need from the patient during consultations?

Information necessary to establish a diagnosis and determine treatment.

What information does the doctor provide to the patient?

Information about the medical condition, diagnosis, and treatment options.

According to Bensing & Verhaak (2004), what are the two types of communication in medical encounters?

1. Instrumental communication

2. Affective communication 

What is instrumental communication?

Communication focused on problem-oriented coping and medical information exchange.

What is affective communication?

Communication aimed at emotional coping and providing emotional support.

What is Shared Decision Making (SDM)?

A collaborative process in which doctors and patients make healthcare decisions together using scientific evidence and patient preferences.

What decision-making models exist in healthcare?

1. Paternalistic decision making

2. Informed decision making

3. Shared decision making (SDM)

What is computer-mediated communication (CMC) in healthcare?

Communication between doctors and patients through digital technologies such as video consultations.

What event caused a steep rise in video consultations?

The COVID-19 pandemic (Barsom et al., 2021).

What are benefits of video-mediated communication (VMC)?

• Saves time and travel costs

• Faster access to healthcare professionals

• Reduces healthcare costs

According to Tates et al. (2017), which communication aspects influence satisfaction with consultations?

1. Information exchange

2. Interpersonal relationship building

3. Shared decision making 

What outcome variables were examined in Tates et al. (2017)?

• Patient satisfaction

• Doctor satisfaction with consultations. 

What is self-disclosure?

Revealing personal information about oneself (Jourard, 1964).

Why is self-disclosure important in healthcare communication?

Doctors need personal information from patients to provide accurate diagnosis and treatment.

What is the privacy calculus? (Laufer & Wolfe, 1977)

Individuals rationally weigh the potential benefits against the risks before disclosing personal information. It suggests that data disclosure occurs when perceived benefits, such as social convenience or personalization, outweigh risks like data misuse.

What factors influence self-disclosure in video consultations? (Bol & Antheunis, 2022)

1. Perceived benefits

2. Privacy concerns

3. Communication barriers

4. Trust in the technology.

What intrapersonal consequences can self-disclosure have?

• Positive emotions

• Negative emotions.

What are GenAI agents?

Conversational systems based on large language models that generate content and interact with users in a human-like way.

How is GenAI used in healthcare communication?

For health information, symptom checking, and conversational support (e.g., ChatGPT Health).

What is convergence in health communication? (Kreps, 2017)

The blurring boundaries between mass media information and interpersonal communication in digital environments.

What are the three types of convergence? (Kreps, 2017)

1. Sequential convergence – offline discussion after online information exposure

2. Integrative convergence – interpersonal communication inside online communities

3. Synthetic convergence – simulated interpersonal communication with AI.

What communication functions also apply when interacting with GenAI agents?

• Relationship building

• Information exchange

• Shared decision making.

What does the Social Information Processing (SIP) Theory (Walther, 1992) state?

When nonverbal cues are reduced in online communication, people compensate by using more verbal communication.

This means that even though video consultations have fewer cues, doctors and patients may adapt their communication style to achieve the same level of interaction.