A herniated disk is like a jelly donut: the impact of provider explanation strategies and delivery format on perceptions of accommodation and recall

ABSTRACT

Many patients struggle to understand complex health information. Guided by communication accommodation theory, this study used experimental methods to examine the influence of healthcare provider explanation strategies (control, analogy, visual analogy/demonstration, analogy plus non-example) and delivery format (video, vignette) on perceptions of accommodation, recall, clarity, perceived understanding, and likelihood to make a future appointment. The explanation strategies consisted of variations of a jelly donut analogy to describe a health issue. U.S. adult participants completed an online survey consisting of either watching a video of an actor provider giving a message or reading a vignette of a provider message, imagining they were being diagnosed with a herniated disk. The video format and the use of analogies plus non-examples were perceived as more overaccommodating than the control or visual analogy/demonstration conditions. No significant effects were found for perceived clarity or perceived understanding, but for recall and likelihood of making a future appointment, the written format was superior to the video format. Providers may want to consider using written materials for explanations of health issues.

KEYWORDS:

• Communication accommodation theory
• explanation strategy
• provider-patient communication
• delivery format

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by a Faculty Research and Development Grant from Louisiana State University Shreveport.

Notes on contributors

Grace M. Hildenbrand

Grace M. Hildenbrand, Ph.D. (Purdue University, 2021), is an assistant professor in the Department of Leadership Studies at Louisiana State University in Shreveport.

Michelle L. Ammon

Michelle L. Ammon, Ed.D. (Louisiana State University Shreveport, 2024) is a behavior analyst and adjunct professor with an interest in establishing and maintaining healthy organizational climates in health-related fields.