Five ways of being 'theoretical': applications to provider-patient communication research.

OBJECTIVE: Analyzes the term 'theoretical' as it applies to the area of provider-patient communication research, in order to understand better at a conceptual level what the term may mean for authors and critics. METHODS: Based on literature on provider-patient communication. RESULTS: Offers, and discusses, five definitions of the term 'theoretical' as it applies to empirical research and its exposition: (1) grounding, (2) referencing, (3) design and analysis, (4) interpretation, and (5) impact. Each of these definitions embodies a different standard for evaluating the theoretical aspects of research. CONCLUSION: Although it is often said that research on provider-patient communication is not 'theoretical' enough, the term is ambiguous and often applied vaguely. A multidimensional analysis reveals that there are several distinct ways in which empirical research can be strong or weak theoretically. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Researchers, educators, editors, and reviewers could use the 'Five Ways' framework to appraise the theory-relevant strengths and weaknesses of empirical research and its exposition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]