Real and Perceived Discordance in Physicians and U.S. Adults’ Beliefs Regarding the Causes and Controllability of Type 2 Diabetes

Bibliographic Data

ID21617520
AuthorsVeronica Derricks (0000-0002-8142-0597, Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis, corresponding author), Jeremy Mosher (Touro University California), Allison Earl (0000-0001-6050-9333, University of Michigan), Toby Epstein Jayaratne (0000-0002-2136-8619, University of Michigan), Jay H Shubrook (0000-0001-5173-2656, Touro University California)
Year2022
Volume37
Issue10
Pages1264-1275
Publication date2022-08-24
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueHealth Communication (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1041-0236 • E-ISSN: 1532-7027
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/10410236.2021.1885775
PMID33622109
OpenAlexW3131812895
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited56

of patient beliefs, despite the importance of perceptions in shaping communication. In the current work, we examine instances of actual and perceived discordance between physicians and U.S. adults' beliefs regarding the causes and controllability of type 2 diabetes. 229 family physicians completed an online survey measuring their health beliefs and perceptions of their patients' beliefs. Physicians' responses were contrasted against beliefs from a national survey sample of 1,168 U.S. adults. T-tests assessed whether (a) physicians' beliefs diverged from the national sample's beliefs (actual discordance), (b) physicians perceived that their health beliefs diverged from their patients' beliefs (perceived discordance), and (c) physicians' perceptions of patient beliefs diverged from the national sample's beliefs (accuracy of perceived discordance). Findings revealed evidence of actual discordance; compared to the national sample, physicians were more likely to attribute type 2 diabetes to genes (versus lifestyle factors) and perceived greater control over developing diabetes. Moreover, although physicians perceived discordance between their own and their patients' beliefs, data from the national sample suggested that these gaps were less substantial than physicians expected. In particular, findings showed that physicians generally overestimated discordance, expecting that people would be less likely to (1) attribute the development of diabetes to lifestyle factors (versus genes), and (2) perceive control over developing diabetes, than was actually reported. Implications of actual and perceived discordance for effective health communication and patient education are discussed

Family medicine · Perceived control · Perception · Clinical Psychology · Empathy and Medical Education · Medicine · Patient-Provider Communication in Healthcare · Psychology · Social Psychology · Vaccine Coverage and Hesitancy

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