Chia-Chun Tang, PhD, Nursing
Taiwan’s universal healthcare system provides easy access but result in overcrowded clinics and brief doctor-patient interactions, reducing the quality of communication.
Dr. Chia-Chun Tang’s research highlights that effective health communication—built on empathy, goal alignment, and power sharing enhances trust, understanding, and treatment outcomes. Her team identified nine interaction patterns and found that poor communication can lead to“medical invalidation,”which further exacerbates patients' distress.
To address this, Tang’s group is developing an AI-powered app designed to engage patients during waiting times, promote shared decision-making, and support nursing staff. She explains, "My interest in health communication began early in my career as a nurse caring for terminally ill cancer patients. I realized that it wasn't the 'bad news' itself that caused patients the most distress, but rather how it was delivered. A well-communicated message has the power to turn fear and uncertainty into understanding and acceptance."
The Behavioral Medicine Research Group aims to transform passive waiting into meaningful interaction, enhancing patient-centered care across Taiwan’s healthcare system.
Behavioral Medicine Lab, School of Nursing, National Taiwan University (2018), advancing health behavior science through innovative research, clinical practice, and education.