Observed communication between oncologists and patients: A causal model of communication competence

Figure 1 Proposed causal model. The proposed model hypothesized the following casual relationship: A patient’s perception of provider active, facilitative, and patient-centered behavior (i.e., input) generates an intermediate outcome of patient involvement and activity (i.e., throughput), which in turn increases overall patient satisfaction (i.e., output).

Figure 2 Final causal model. The modified model that emerged after statistical analysis: a patient’s perception of provider active and facilitative behavior (i.e., input) generates an intermediate outcome of patient involvement and activity (i.e., throughput), which in turn increases overall patient satisfaction (i.e., output). Similarly, the model also demonstrates a direct (rather than mediated) relationship between a patient’s perception of a provider’s patient-centered behavior and a patient’s overall satisfaction.