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This study investigates the methodologies and theoretical frameworks used in doctor-patient communication research over two decades.

June 18, 2026

Trends in Methodological and Theoretical Approaches to Interpersonal Health Communication Research

Key Points

This study investigates the methodologies and theoretical frameworks used in doctor-patient communication research over two decades.
Analyzed 105 full-text journal articles published from 1991 to 2010 on doctor-patient communication.
Conducted content analysis of these articles to identify methodological trends.
Categorized research methods into qualitative, quantitative, and mixed approaches.
51.4% of articles used qualitative methods; 18.1% employed quantitative methods; 30.5% used mixed methods.
Survey was the most common quantitative approach at 30.97%.
A notable shift from quantitative to qualitative methods was observed, with insufficient theoretical backing in the studies.

Abstract

Abstract Communication is an important tool used for dissemination of information in any health care setting. Smooth and uninterrupted doctor-patient communication is essential to a positive health outcome in medical practice. Studies have been carried out on this form of interpersonal communication by many researchers globally. This study examined the research methods adopted by some previous studies and the type of theories they adopted. One hundred and five full text journal articles published on doctor-patient communication over a period of twenty years from 1991 to 2010 were electronically and manually collected and examined for the study while content analyses of these articles was carried out. The study found that 51.4% of the articles employed qualitative methods, 18.1% adopted quantitative methods, and 30.5% adopted a combination of both quantitative and qualitative methods. Under quantitative research methods, survey (30.97%) was the most frequently used approach. It was observed that, there has been a drift from quantitative to qualitative research methods in the study of doctor-patient communication research and there has been an insufficient use of theories to back up these studies in relation to doctor-patient communication. Key Words: Health Communication, Doctor-Patient Communication, Methodological Approaches, Theoretical Approaches, Theories and Research. JCMRJournal of Communication and Media Research, Vol. 6, No. 2, October 2014, 163 – 174 ©Delmas Communications Ltd. About the authors Olayinka Susan Ogundoyin is a lecturer in the Department of Mass Communication, Bowen University, Iwo, Osun State, Nigeria. âƒ° âƒ° Ebenezer O. Soola, Ph.D., is a Professor in the Department of Communication and Language Arts, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria. Full Article Words: 5,261; Pages: 12

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