--- title: "MD responses to pts with mental health needs | Sutter Health" description: "Little is known about the questions patients ask of their physicians; physician responses, and the relationship between patients' questions and visit outcomes." url: "https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/md-responses-to-pts-with-mental-health-needs-1055312583" --- 1. [Home](https://www.sutterhealth.org/) / 2. [Research](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research) / 3. [Research publications](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications) / 4. MD responses to pts with mental health needs # Patients with mental health needs are engaged in asking questions, but physicians’ responses vary Tai-Seale M, Foo P, & Stults C. _Health Aff. 32(2):259-67. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2012.0962._ 2013-02-01 ## Abstract Increased patient engagement is of particular interest regarding patients with mental health needs , given the high burden of mental illness in the United States and the potential for greater patient engagement to improve health outcomes. Little is known about the extent to which these patients ask questions of their physicians, how physicians respond, and what the relationship is between patients ' questions and visit outcomes. We conducted in-depth mixed-method analyses of 322 audio recordings of primary care visits by people with mental health needs . We found that patients asked many questions -a median of fifteen per visit, but that they were more likely to ask about biomedical topics, such as diabetes, than about mental health topics. Patients received highly varied responses from physicians. Our findings suggest that efforts aimed at improving patient engagement should move beyond simply encouraging patients to ask questions . The goal should also be to support physicians in recognizing patients ' concerns and providing the most responsive answers, as well as promoting strong relationships to undergird communication among all members of the care team. [PubMed abstract](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Patients+With+Mental+Health+Needs+Are+Engaged+In+Asking+Que) ![Cheryl Stults, Ph.D.](https://dyn.mktgcdn.com/p/3IhveEwq-t5WoqAzSNGeAr-4g4yrj4v7x1QcPGdCX_s/fit=crop,gravity=auto,dpr=2,width=188,height=250,quality=100) Cheryl Stults, Ph.D. Principal investigator [View profile](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/investigators/cheryl-stults-phd-1049681000) ## Research topics - [Aging and Longevity](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?query=%22%5C%22Aging+and+Longevity%5C%22%22) - [Disease Management](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?query=%22%5C%22Disease+Management%5C%22%22) - [Mental Health](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?query=%22%5C%22Mental+Health%5C%22%22) ## Related publications [View all publications](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?verticalKey=research_publication) - Publication ### [Three types of ambiguity in coding empathic interactions in primary care visits: implications for research and practice.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/ambiguity-in-coding-empathic-interactions-in-pc-1055312573) Stone A, Tai-Seale M, Stults C, Luiz J, Frankel R. Patient Educ Couns. 89(1):63-8. doi: 10.1016/j.pec.2012.06.013. Epub 2012 Jul 17. 2012 Oct 01 - Publication ### [Analyses of nursing home residents with multiple sclerosis and depression using the Minimum Data Set.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/nursing-home-residents-ms-depression-1055312585) Buchanan RJ, Wang S, Tai-Seale M, Ju H. Mult Scler. 9(2):171-88. 2003 Mar 01 - Publication ### [Now what should I do? Primary care physicians’ responses to older adults expressing thoughts of suicide.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/pcp-responses-to-older-adults-thoughts-of-suicide-1055312695) Vannoy SD, Tai-Seale M, Duberstein P, Eaton L, Cook M. J Gen Intern Med. 26(9):1005-11. doi: 10.1007/s11606-011-1726-5. Epub 2011 May 4. 2011 Sep 01 - Publication ### [Two-minute mental health care for elderly patients: inside primary care visits.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/two-minute-mental-health-care-for-elderly-patients-1055312643) Tai-Seale M, McGuire T, Colenda C, Rosen D, Cook MA. J Am Geriatr Soc. 55(12):1903-11. 2007 Dec 01 - Publication ### [Research priorities to advance the health and health care of older adults with multiple chronic conditions.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/research-advance-healthcare-srs-chronic-conds-1055312387) Tisminetzky M, Bayliss EA, Magaziner JS, Allore HG, Anzuoni K, Boyd CM, Gill TM, Go AS, Greenspan SL, Hanson LR, Hornbrook MC, Kitzman DW, Larson EB, Naylor MD, Shirley BE, Tai-Seale M, Teri L, Tinetti ME, Whitson HE, Gurwitz JH. J Am Geriatr Soc. doi: 10.1111/jgs.14943. \[Epub ahead of print\] 2017 May 26 [View all publications](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?verticalKey=research_publication) ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"MedicalOrganization","name":"Sutter Health","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/#medicalorganization","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org","logo":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/static/images/sutter-health-logo.svg","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"2200 River Plaza Drive","addressLocality":"Sacramento","addressRegion":"CA","postalCode":"95833","addressCountry":"US"},"areaServed":{"@type":"AdministrativeArea","name":"California"},"sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/SutterHealth","https://www.instagram.com/sutterhealth/","https://x.com/SutterHealth","https://www.youtube.com/sutterhealth","https://www.linkedin.com/company/sutter-health","https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sutter_Health"]} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/md-responses-to-pts-with-mental-health-needs-1055312583#breadcrumblist","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Research","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Research publications","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"MD responses to pts with mental health needs"}]} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"MedicalScholarlyArticle","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/md-responses-to-pts-with-mental-health-needs-1055312583#medicalscholarlyarticle","name":"Patients with mental health needs are engaged in asking questions, but physicians’ responses vary","headline":"MD responses to pts with mental health needs","abstract":"Increased patient engagement is of particular interest regarding patients with mentalhealthneeds, given the high burden of mental illness in the United States and the potential for greater patient engagement to improve health outcomes. Little is known about the extent to which these patients ask questions of their physicians, how physicians respond, and what the relationship is between patients' questions and visit outcomes. We conducted in-depth mixed-method analyses of 322 audio recordings of primary care visits by people with mentalhealthneeds. We found that patients asked many questions-a median of fifteen per visit, but that they were more likely to ask about biomedical topics, such as diabetes, than about mentalhealth topics. Patients received highly varied responses from physicians. Our findings suggest that efforts aimed at improving patient engagement should move beyond simply encouraging patients to ask questions. 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