| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|||||||||
1 Welch Center for Prevention, Epidemiology, and Clinical Research, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md
2 Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Md
3 Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Md
4 Phoebe R. Berman Bioethics Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md
5 Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Md
6 National Center for Minority Health and Health Disparities, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Md
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR: Mary Catherine Beach, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Medicine and Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 2024 East Monument Street, Suite 2-500, Baltimore, MD 21287, mcbeach{at}jhmi.edu
PURPOSE Although involving patients in their own health care is known to be associated with improved outcomes, this study was conducted to determine whether respecting persons more broadly, such as treating them with dignity, has additional positive effects.
METHODS Using data from the Commonwealth Fund 2001 Health Care Quality Survey of 6,722 adults living in the United States, we performed survey-weighted logistic regression analysis to evaluate independent associations between 2 measures of respect (involvement in decisions and treatment with dignity) and patient outcomes (satisfaction, adherence, and receipt of optimal preventive care). Then we calculated adjusted probabilities of these outcomes and performed stratified analyses to examine results across racial/ethnic groups.
RESULTS After adjustment for respondents’ demographic characteristics, the probability of reporting a high level of satisfaction was higher for those treated with dignity vs not treated with dignity (0.70 vs 0.38, P <.001) and for those involved in, versus not involved in, decisions (0.70 vs 0.39, P <.001). These associations were consistent across all racial/ethnic groups. Being involved in decisions was significantly associated with adherence for whites, whereas being treated with dignity was significantly associated with adherence for racial/ethnic minorities. The probability of receiving optimal preventive care was marginally greater for those treated with dignity (0.68 vs 0.63, P = .054), but did not differ with respect to involvement in decisions (0.67 vs 0.67, P = .95).
CONCLUSIONS Being treated with dignity and being involved in decisions are independently associated with positive outcomes. Although involving patients in decisions is an important part of respecting patient autonomy, it is also important to respect patients more broadly by treating them with dignity.
Key Words: Physician-patient relations/ethics • ethnic groups • personal autonomy • bioethics • respect
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  R. J. Blendon, T. Buhr, E. F. Cassidy, D. J. Perez, K. A. Hunt, C. Fleischfresser, J. M. Benson, and M. J. Herrmann Disparities In Health: Perspectives Of A Multi-Ethnic, Multi-Racial America Health Aff., September 1, 2007; 26(5): 1437 - 1447. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 B. H. Levi Addressing Parents' Concerns About Childhood Immunizations: A Tutorial for Primary Care Providers Pediatrics, July 1, 2007; 120(1): 18 - 26. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 K. C. Stange In This Issue: Patient Outcomes, the Process of Care, and the Capacity for Innovation Ann. Fam. Med, July 1, 2005; 3(4): 290 - 291. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
