Chang Research Group

Principal Investigator: Judy Chang, MD, MPH

In general, our researchers explore patient-provider communication during obstetric appointments to identify which communication styles or skills facilitate positive behavioral change to improve the health of the pregnancy, mother and baby.

Project Title: Patient – Provider Communication During Pregnancy

Funding: National Institute of Health (NIH)
Project: This study will assess face-to-face provider communication with pregnant patients during the first obstetric appointment. The goal of the study is to identify communication styles and processes that encourage pregnant patients to disclose risky health behaviors and subsequently engage in dialogue with their providers that leads to behavior change for the benefit of their own health and that of their babies. Data from this study will identify specific communication skills, content, and processes we will use to develop evidence-based provider communication training interventions to improve provider detection of various health problems.

Project Title: Patient – Provider Communication On Violence

Funding: AHRQ
Project: This study examined audio taped conversations between physicians and patients during the first obstetric visit to explore how obstetrics care providers and their pregnant patients talked about intimate partner violence (IPV). To identify the aspects of the conversation that were helpful to women with experiences of IPV, we had participants return to listen to the audiotapes and allow them to stop the tapes at various points to describe their perception of the conversation, their reaction to the interaction and how the conversation affected them. We identified components of patient provider communication associated with increased patient trust and satisfaction, improved patient understanding of IPV and options to increase safety, and increased motivation to change their situation.

Research Group Members

Cynthia Holland, MPH

Project Manager
412-641-4597
hollandcl2@upmc.edu

Selected Publications

  • Scholle SH, Chang JC, Harman J, & McNeil M. Trends In women’s health services: Distinct patterns by physician specialty continues. Women’s Health Issues,12 (4):165-77, 2002. (Charles E. Gibbs Leadership Prize for the best manuscript published in Women’s Health Issues in 2002)
  • Chang JC, Decker M, Moracco KE, Martin SL, Petersen R, & Frasier PY. When health providers ask about intimate partner violence: A description of outcomes from the perspective of female survivors. J Amer Med Women’s Assoc, 58(2):76-81, Spring 2003.
  • Chang JC, Cluss PA, Ranieri L, Hawker L, Buranosky R, Dado D, McNeil M, & Scholle SH. Healthcare interventions for intimate partner violence: What women want. Women’s Health Issues, 15(1): 21-30, 2005. (among the top cited articles from Women’s Health Issues for 2007)
  • Chang JC, Decker M, Moracco KE, Martin SL, Petersen R, & Frasier PY. Asking about intimate partner violence: Advice from female survivors to health care providers. Patient Education and Counseling, 59(2): pp 141-7, 2005.
  • Chang JC, Dado D, Frankel RM, Rodriguez KL, Zickmund S, Ling B, & Arnold RM. When pregnant patients disclose substance use: Missed opportunities for behavioral change counseling. Patient Education and Counseling, 7(3): 394-401, Sep. 2008.
  • Chang JC, Buranosky R, Dado D, Cluss PA, Hawker L, Rothe E, McNeil M, & Scholle SH. Helping women victims of intimate partner violence: Comparing the approaches of two healthcare settings. Violence and Victims, 24(2): 198-208, Apr. 2009.
  • Chang JC, Dado D, Hawker L, Cluss PA, Buranosky R, Slagel L, McNeil MA, & Scholle SH. Understanding turning points in intimate partner violence: Factors and circumstances leading women victims toward change. J Women's Health, 19(2): 251-9, 2010.
  • Akers A, Yonas M, Burke J, & Chang JC. “Do you want somebody treating your sister like that?”: How African American families discuss and promote healthy teen dating relationships. J Interper Viol, Oct. 1, 2010. Epub ahead of print.
  • Meiksin R, Zickmund S, Bhargava T, Arnold R, Dado D, Frankel R, Rodriguez KL, Ling B, & Chang JC. Now is the chance: Patient-provider communication about unplanned pregnancy during the first prenatal visit. Patient Education and Counseling, 81(3):462-7, 2010.
  • Chang JC, Cluss PA, Burke JG, Hawker L, Dado D, Goldstrohm S, & Scholle SH. Intimate partner violence prevalence and screening in mental health settings. Accepted for publication, General Hospital Psychiatry.

News