Dependent Variables Derived from Critical Health Outcomes

Research establishes a consistent connection between communication variables and patient health outcomes. This entry provides a general overview of the conceptualization and measurement of health outcomes connected to communication. Patient health outcomes may be conceptualized as focusing on patients' cognitive, behavioral, and physiological outcomes. Although there are indeed links between outcomes and provider-patient interaction, there are also limitations to predicting outcomes from analyzing interactions, particularly with regard to measuring health/illness outcomes. There are also limitations in theoretical explanations and methods that limit causal conclusions.

Cognitive outcomes include, but are not limited to, patient trust, confidence, understanding, self-efficacy or belief in ability to meet goals, intention to follow a health regimen, satisfaction with health care/life, regulation of fear and anxiety, and change in beliefs regarding health. Numerous ...