Understanding the interconnection between routine screening behavior, socio-demographics, quality of care, trust, and communication experiences with health-care professionals

Abstract

Introduction: Routine screening is an integral aspect of health care. The literature says little about how health-screening behaviors might be predicted based on trust, quality of care and communication within the professional–patient relationship—things that ultimately delimit attitudes towards routine screening.

Methods: This study employed data derived from the 2017 Health Information National Trends. Survey (HINTS). Bivariate relationships and two step-hierarchical multiple regression techniques were used to examine associations between routine screening behavior and sociodemographic factors, and to identify any mediating role in such associations played by one or more health-care factors.

Results: Native English speakers were significantly more likely than less-fluent non-native speakers to perceive the quality of care received to be high, [p < .001, d = .45] communication to be better [p = .01, d = .32) and trusted more [p = .02, d = .14). health-care factors trust (b = .105, p = .000) and quality (b = .061, p = .028) were associated significantly with routine screening behavior, while communication (b = .046, p = .192) was not. At Step 2, explained variance increased by 2%, adding health-care factors raised the measure of F-value significantly.

Discussion: The small variance implies the need to seek further relevant correlates of routine screening behavior. As health-care systems continue turning toward preventive strategies, grasping the social determinants of preventive screening behavior could prove useful for improving the health of the nation’s residents. Also, cultural understanding by health professionals is pertinent and required to capitalize on immigrant groups’ health-care-seeking behaviors and facilitate competent delivery of care.