The Relationship Between Race, Patient Activation, and Working Alliance: Implications for Patient Engagement in Mental Health Care

Johanne Eliacin; Jessica M Coffing; Marianne S Matthias; Diana J Burgess; Matthew J Bair; Angela L Rollins

doi:10.1007/s10488-016-0779-5

The Relationship Between Race, Patient Activation, and Working Alliance: Implications for Patient Engagement in Mental Health Care

Adm Policy Ment Health. 2018 Jan;45(1):186-192. doi: 10.1007/s10488-016-0779-5.

Authors

Johanne Eliacin^{1

2

3

4}, Jessica M Coffing⁵, Marianne S Matthias^{5

6

7

8}, Diana J Burgess^{9

10}, Matthew J Bair^{5

6

8

11}, Angela L Rollins^{5

12

6

13}

Affiliations

¹ Center for Health Information and Communication, CHIC, Health Services Research & Development, Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center, 1481 West 10th Street, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA. [email protected].
² Department of Psychology, Indiana University Purdue University at Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA. [email protected].
³ Center for Health Services Research, Regenstrief Institute, Inc., Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA. [email protected].
⁴ ACT Center of Indiana, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA. [email protected].
⁵ Center for Health Information and Communication, CHIC, Health Services Research & Development, Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center, 1481 West 10th Street, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA.
⁶ Center for Health Services Research, Regenstrief Institute, Inc., Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA.
⁷ Communication Studies, Indiana University Purdue University at Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA.
⁸ Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA.
⁹ Center for Chronic Disease Outcomes Research (CCDOR), Minneapolis VA Health Care System, Minnesota, MN, 55417, USA.
¹⁰ Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minnesota, MN, 55455, USA.
¹¹ Indiana University Center for Health Services and Outcomes Research, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA.
¹² Department of Psychology, Indiana University Purdue University at Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA.
¹³ ACT Center of Indiana, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA.

PMID: 27904992
DOI: 10.1007/s10488-016-0779-5

Abstract

This study explored the relationship between race and two key aspects of patient engagement-patient activation and working alliance-among a sample of African-American and White veterans (N = 152) seeking medication management for mental health conditions. After adjusting for demographics, race was significantly associated with patient activation, working alliance, and medication adherence scores. Patient activation was also associated with working alliance. These results provide support for the consideration of race and ethnicity in facilitating patient engagement and patient activation in mental healthcare. Minority patients may benefit from targeted efforts to improve their active engagement in mental healthcare.

Keywords: African-Americans; Mental health; Patient activation; Patient engagement.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

Adult
Black or African American*
Communication
Female
Humans
Male
Medication Adherence
Mental Disorders / drug therapy*
Middle Aged
Patient Participation*
Physician-Patient Relations
Therapeutic Alliance*
Veterans*
White People*

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding