Enhancing parent–provider communication in ambulatory pediatric practice

ObjectiveTo address the need for interventions to enhance parent–provider communication, the present study evaluated the effectiveness of a brief intervention to enhance interpersonal communication skills by pediatric and internal medicine/pediatric residents with parents of children seen in ambulatory practice.MethodsIn a within-subjects, repeated measures research design, residents (N = 28) participated in a 1–112 h intervention designed to increase the use of effective communication skills with their patients’ families (N = 92). Three pediatric visits (one prior to and two following the intervention) were audio-taped and coded using Roter's Interaction Analysis System. Parents’ perceptions of residents’ communication skills and satisfaction with care were gathered.ResultsResidents used more effective interpersonal communication skills following the intervention (p < .05). Parent satisfaction with care also increased (p < .01) with parents reporting greater satisfaction with distress relief (p = .01) and communication following the intervention (p = .05). However, parents’ perceptions of resident communication did not change over time.ConclusionThese findings suggest that a relatively brief intervention shows promise in improving the quality of care provided within a pediatric ambulatory care setting.Practice implicationsTraining residents to increase their use of praise, empathy, and collaboration with families can be done within a brief intervention and may be associated with increased parental satisfaction with care.