The Article in Brief

What Latina Patients Don't Tell Their Doctors: A Qualitative Study

Kell Julliard , and colleagues

Background Many studies have explored barriers to communication between patients and physicians, but Latina women were not well represented in such studies. A better understanding of barriers to information disclosure could improve health care outcomes. The goal of this study is to identify conditions that create barriers to disclosure of health information in Latina patients' medical visits.

What This Study Found Full disclosure of health issues between Latina patients and physicians is more likely to occur in the context of a warm, trusting, compassionate relationship in which the patient feels respected and truly heard. Barriers to disclosure include the presence of translators and time constraints. Sexual issues represent the most sensitive topic. Many women are more willing to fully disclose health issues to a female physician.

Implications

• Staff training in techniques for building rapport can foster better communication, increase empathy and compassion, and lead to the establishment of trusting relationships in which disclosure is more likely.
• Clinicians should be aware of the difficulties some Latinas experience in disclosing sensitive information when a translator is present.