Changing patient mindsets about non–life-threatening symptoms during oral immunotherapy: a randomized clinical trial

Published in: The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology – May 2019

Written by

Lauren Howe, Kari Leibowitz, Margaret Perry, Julie Bitler, Whitney Block, Ted Kaptchuk, Kari Nadeau and Alia Crum

Summary

What we found: Uncomfortable symptoms during treatment for peanut allergies can be explained to patients either as unfortunate side effects or as signs that the treatment is working. In the second case, patients were less anxious, and had better treatment outcomes.

Why it matters: Changing what providers said to patients about symptoms changed how patients experienced those symptoms. Communication can shape people’s mindsets about the challenged that they face.

What next: Organizations can consider how they communicate about difficult issues, and how they could change the mindsets of their employees through the way they communicate about challenges.