View article

BACKGROUND: Patient-provider communication is essential for effective care of diabetes and other chronic illnesses. However, the relative impact of general versus disease-specific communication on self-management is poorly understood, as are the determinants of these 2 communication dimensions.

DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey.

SETTING: Three VA heath care systems, 1 county health care system, and 1 university-based health care system.

PATIENTS: Seven hundred fifty-two diabetes patients were enrolled. Fifty-two percent were nonwhite, 18% had less than a high-school education, and 8% were primarily Spanish-speaking.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Patients’ assessments of providers’ general and diabetes-specific communication were measured using validated scales. Self …