Objective: To compare traditional healers (TH) and Cameroonian representatives of Western medicine (Western providers (WP)) in terms of patient characteristics and communication patterns during the consultation in rural Cameroon. Methods: A facility-based comparative study was conducted. Seven TH were compared to eight WP in the same district. Patients (five per provider) provided detailed socio-demographic data. Recorded consultations were analysed with the Roter Interaction Analysis System (RIAS). Results: Patients were similar in socio-demographic characteristics except for age, where TH patients were on average 9 years younger (P