Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
Volume 20, Issue 4, 2018, Pages 963-971

Trust and Perceptions of Physicians’ Nonverbal Behavior Among Women with Immigrant Backgrounds (Article) (Open Access)

Hillen M.A.* , de Haes H.C.J.M. , Verdam M.G.E. , Smets E.M.A.
  • a Department of Medical Psychology - Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, P.O. Box 22700, Amsterdam, 1100 DE, Netherlands
  • b Department of Medical Psychology - Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, P.O. Box 22700, Amsterdam, 1100 DE, Netherlands
  • c Department of Medical Psychology - Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, P.O. Box 22700, Amsterdam, 1100 DE, Netherlands, Research Institute of Child Development and Education, University of Amsterdam, Nieuwe Achtergracht 127, Amsterdam, 1018 WS, Netherlands
  • d Department of Medical Psychology - Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, P.O. Box 22700, Amsterdam, 1100 DE, Netherlands

Abstract

Previous findings suggest immigrant patients have lower trust in their physicians, and perceive nonverbal communication differently compared to non-immigrant patients. We tested discrepancies in trust and the impact of non-verbal behavior between immigrants and non-immigrants in The Netherlands. Nonverbal communication of an oncologist was systematically varied in an experimental video vignettes design. Breast cancer patients (n = 34) and healthy women (n = 34) viewed one of eight video versions and evaluated trust and perceived friendliness of the oncologist. In a matched control design, women with immigrant and non-immigrant backgrounds were paired. Immigrant women reported stronger trust. Nonverbal communication by the oncologist did not influence trust differently for immigrants compared to for non-immigrants. However, smiling strongly enhanced perceived friendliness for non-immigrants, but not for immigrants. Immigrant patients’ strong trust levels may be formed a priori, instead of based on physicians’ communication. Physicians may need to make extra efforts to optimize their communication. © 2017, The Author(s).

Author Keywords

immigrants Trust Cross-cultural comparison Oncology Nonverbal communication

Index Keywords

Netherlands perception Oncologists Videotape Recording Physician-Patient Relations facial expression Smiling videorecording oncologist Nonverbal Communication human middle aged Aged ethnology Humans Breast Neoplasms migrant Trust psychology Emigrants and Immigrants breast tumor female Aged, 80 and over Socioeconomic Factors very elderly socioeconomics doctor patient relationship adult age Age Factors
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85017134304&doi=10.1007%2fs10903-017-0580-x&partnerID=40&md5=a8774375a661c7ab2546eee94162c71a
DOI: 10.1007/s10903-017-0580-x
ISSN: 15571912
Cited by: 1
Original Language: English