The importance of dialogue: communication strategy for empowerment of low-income African American patients via in-depth interviews of primary care providers at inner-city health clinics

Purpose: We explored how primary care providers perceive their interactions with low-income African American patients at two inner-city health clinics. Background: Drawing from theories of empowerment and community development, we asked what types of communication strategies health care providers consider crucial for creating/maintaining empowered low-income African American patients. Method: We conducted twelve in-depth interviews and performed data analysis to identify recurring themes and report them within the scope of the qualitative nature of the current data. Results: Healthcare providers reported that they are fully aware of and actively use the patient-centered/collaborative strategies identified in the literature. They expressed their desire/willingness to work with their patients as partners in patient health management/improvement rather than simply instructing them. They also prefer highly motivated patients to improve their own health outcomes. Conclusion: Overall findings suggest providers, working in inner-city health clinics, understand and use accommodating/collaborating and patient-centered strategies daily to empower their low-income African American patients.