Improved health outcomes in integrative medicine visits May reflect differences in physician and patient behaviors compared to standard medical visits

Abstract Objective To identify differences in patient-physician interactions associated with improvements in GERD symptoms in a randomized controlled trial comparing integrative medicine and primary care/standard visits. Methods We analyzed video recordings of 2-minute excerpts (thin slices) from the beginning, middle, and end of 21 study visits (11 standard, 10 integrative medicine). Results According to blind coders’ analysis of the excerpts, prospective improvement in GERD symptoms was most highly correlated with patients appearing pleased (r = 0.71, p  Conclusion The expanded history-taking questions asked by integrative clinicians may enhance relationship building, modifying patients’ responses and improving patient-centered behaviors from clinicians,ultimately facilitating symptom improvement. Practice Implications: Analysis of nonverbal behaviors may facilitate a better understanding of patient-clinician interactions in integrative medicine visits and yield insights to improve clinical interactions in conventional medicine.