Promoting High-Quality Health Communication Between Young Adults With Diabetes and Health Care Providers

Breana L Bryant; Christine H Wang; M Elizabeth Zinn; KellyAnn Rooney; Celia Henderson; Maureen Monaghan

doi:10.2337/dsi21-0036

Promoting High-Quality Health Communication Between Young Adults With Diabetes and Health Care Providers

Diabetes Spectr. 2021 Nov;34(4):345-356. doi: 10.2337/dsi21-0036. Epub 2021 Nov 10.

Authors

Breana L Bryant¹, Christine H Wang¹, M Elizabeth Zinn^{2

3}, KellyAnn Rooney¹, Celia Henderson¹, Maureen Monaghan^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC.
² George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, DC.
³ George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health, Washington, DC.

Abstract

Young adults with diabetes assume increasing responsibility for communicating with their health care providers, and engaging in high-quality health communication is an integral component of overall diabetes self-management. This article provides an overview of the main features of health communication, factors that may influence communication quality, interventions to promote communication skills, and practical strategies for clinicians working with young adults with diabetes. The review concludes with a comprehensive summary of future directions for health communication research.