A Comparison between Patients’ and Residents’ Perceptions of Patient Centeredness and Communication Skills among Physicians Working at Jordan University Hospital

Nada A Yasein,Wejdan A Shroukh,Farouq M Shakhatreh,Mohammad S Farah,Ruba M Jaber

doi:10.4236/ojn.2017.76052

Abstract

Aim: This research aims to evaluate patient-centeredness and communication skills from the patients’ point of view and that of the physicians’ point of view and compares the two outcomes. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study with a convenient sample of 418 patients and 94 residents. Instrument of the study was a structured questionnaire that aimed to evaluate patient centeredness and communication skills of the residents. Results: Residents gave themselves a significantly higher score than the score given to them by patients in most studied aspects such as the extent to which the doctor discussed the patient’s problem, the extent to which the doctor explained the problem, the doctor introduced himself, the doctor greeted the patient properly and others. The only aspect for which patients gave residents higher score than that residents gave themselves was the extent to which the doctor asked the patient about what is expected to be done (ECG, CT scan, giving antibiotics, …). Conclusion: A transformation from doctor centered approach to patient centered approach is needed.

Highlights

IntroductionIt is common among all references that patient centered care means the kind of care that is individualized to each patient, and takes into account the whole person during the treatment process [2] [3]
Patient centered care can have a number of definitions in the literature, and different authors focus on various aspects of this kind of patient care
Several aspects of patient centeredness and communication skills were rated significantly lower by patients than by residents in the current study

Summary

Introduction

It is common among all references that patient centered care means the kind of care that is individualized to each patient, and takes into account the whole person during the treatment process [2] [3]. Another vital aspect of patient care is the patient-doctor communication. It is well known that good patient-doctor communication has a strong effect on treatment outcomes including symptoms management This kind of communication can make a consultation either succeed or fail to deliver the expected outcomes [4]

Objectives

Methods

Discussion

Conclusion