Discriminatory and valuing communication behaviors in cardiology encounters.

The analysis included only 25 White cardiologists at one academic institution, so it may not apply to other clinicians, settings, or patient groups. The study did not include enough Black cardiologists to compare encounters when patient and cardiologist race were the same. Patient ratings of communication had ceiling effects, so the coded behaviors could not be linked to how patients actually perceived the encounters. Coders were asked not to guess patient race, but they may have assumed it. Stereotyping occurred very rarely, with only 4 instances, so it could not be modeled statistically. The paper describes code development and reliability, not a tested intervention that improves communication or outcomes.

The supplied text does not name a funder, though the publication types list NIH extramural support. The authors declare no competing financial interests or personal relationships and no conflicts of interest to disclose.

Do not read the small unadjusted differences as proof of discrimination or as evidence that these codes will improve communication in any discipline. In adjusted models, no race difference reached significance, and the study did not test nursing care or patient outcomes.