Interpersonal aspects of care-giving and client outcomes: A review of the literature

Three interpersonal aspects of care-giving that are important to the recipients of health care are found repeatedly in the literature - information exchange, respectful and supportive care and partnership/enabling. This article reviews studies in the medical and rehabilitation literature examining the relationships between these aspects of care-giving by health care providers and three client outcomes: general satisfaction with care, adherence to therapeutic or medical regimens and advice, and stress. All three aspects of care-giving, but especially information exchange, are associated with satisfaction. Respectful and supportive care and information exchange are associated with adherence. Respectful and supportive care may be associated with reduced stress. Few studies have examined relationships between partnership/enabiing and client outcomes. In contrast to satisfaction and adherence, client stress has received little attention in research studies, implications for clinical practice in pediatrics are discussed.