Heather McKee Hurwitz

Health Communication Income Physician-Patient Relations Social Determinants of Health Walking into an examination room often means undressing. The patient will be naked. Exposed. Vulnerable. Even if undressing is not necessary, patients will disrobe figuratively. Just as it is necessary to ask about bowel movements or check the breast for lumps, inquiring about a patient’s lifestyle is integral to providing high-quality care.

Key Points Question How do physicians discuss initiation of anticoagulation with patients with atrial fibrillation in the clinical treatment setting? Findings In this qualitative analysis of 37 recorded clinical encounters, physicians emphasized the risk of stroke over the risk of bleeding, often using emotionally persuasive language. The benefits of direct oral anticoagulants were emphasized relative to the downsides of warfarin, and physicians discussed drug cost in less than half of encounters.