# Research Project 2

> **NIH NIH U54** · DUKE UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $200,582

## Abstract

Abstract - Project 2 
TITLE: The effect of a clinician communication coaching intervention on racial 
disparities in the quality of communication in cardiology encounters 
 High quality care depends squarely on communication between clinicians and patients. 
Robust evidence links effective communication to important patient outcomes, such as higher 
adherence, higher satisfaction, and lower malpractice suits. One study even linked physician 
empathy with lower hbA1c levels. Quality of communication differs, however, for African 
American compared to white patients. Many have reported race differences both in the 
perception of communication and in observed ratings of communication. These race differences 
can impact not just the patient experience of care but also the actual care patients receive. 
Cardiology is an area where race differences in communication can lead to life altering 
outcomes. When cardiologists provide different care based on patient race, disparities in 
comorbidity and mortality persist. Although many have documented race differences, few have 
attempted to reduce the gap in patient-physician communication between African Americans 
and whites. 
 One strategy for reducing the gap of care involves improving overall communication, 
particularly focusing on expressing empathy and attempting to improve patient engagement. 
This is especially important in race-discordant (white physician, African-American patient) given 
evidence that physicians often struggle communicating with patients of other races. Research 
indicates that African Americans engage in less participatory behaviors and physicians elicit 
less participatory behaviors among their African American patients compared to Whites. 
Teaching physicians how to promote more question asking and support for autonomy for all 
patients could reduce this gap. In this application, our multidisciplinary team applies a well- 
established approach to achieving clinician-patient alignment in the cardiology setting. We 
propose to conduct a two-arm randomized controlled trial with cardiologists in which half of the 
cardiologists receive a coaching intervention that focuses on teaching empathic skills and 
eliciting participatory behaviors. Our primary outcome is improved physician communication as 
assessed by analysis of audio recordings of patient-physician encounters. Our secondary 
outcome is patients' perceptions of the quality of patient centered communication. Our premise 
is that incorporation of these techniques will improve providers' ability to effectively 
communicate with all patients and will reduce racial disparities in actual and perceived quality of 
provider communication quality with African-American and White patients.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9932829
- **Project number:** 5U54MD012530-04
- **Recipient organization:** DUKE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** KATHRYN I POLLAK
- **Activity code:** U54 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $200,582
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** — → —

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9932829

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9932829, Research Project 2 (5U54MD012530-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9932829. Licensed CC0.

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