Analysis of patients’ demand for professional conduct by residents in public hospitals based on expectations

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to reveal patients’ demand for professional conduct by physicians in public hospitals in terms of 22 elements in five dimensions, namely, the principles of life value, integrity fairness and justice, rationality, and honesty, based on the theory of social expectations and from the perspective of patients. Methods: More than 1500 patients were selected from 34 public hospitals in Shandong Province, China to participate in a questionnaire survey. A Chi-square test, logistic regression analysis, and other methods were used to analyze the survey data, such as satisfaction with residents’ medical services and demand for professional conduct. Results: About 79.5% of the patients expressed that the medical services provided by residents in public hospitals were above the “average” level. There was statistical significance for age, educational level, occupation, and satisfaction with inpatient services (P < 0.05). In the ranking of moral elements, four elements related to honesty, three elements related to rationality, two elements related to kindness (righteousness), and one element related to life value ranked in the top 10 elements, all with average scores above 4.70. Conclusion: The social evaluation mechanism for professional conduct by residents in public hospitals should be strengthened, and the standardized training system for the professional conduct of residents in public hospitals should be improved.