Doctor-Patient Communication, What is the Situation? An Intervention Study at a Selected Governmental Hospital in Sharkia Governorate

Abstract

Background: Good doctor-patient communication has multiple impacts as higher compliance, satisfaction for both patients and clinicians and decrease in malpractice. Objective(s): To assess physicians’ perception towards importance of effective doctor-patient communication, as well as to measure their actual practice and skills of communication according to the items of the Kalamazoo checklist before and after training program. Methods: An intervention study was carried out at outpatient clinics in a general hospital at Zagazig district. A randomly selected sample of 198 physicians was chosen. The phases of the study were: 1- Assessing the level of doctor patient communication practice using the Kalamazoo Checklist. 2- Assessing physicians’ perception towards effective communication, using a self-administered questionnaire. 3- Assessing the level of doctor patient communication practice after training program. Results: 46.5% of physicians highly perceived the importance of effective communication; with higher perception among females. The highest perceived items (more than 80%) were the effect of good communication on patients’ compliance, patients’ satisfaction and physicians’ satisfaction. The intervention program significantly improved the physicians’ communication skills. Conclusion: Less than half of the physicians highly perceived the importance of effective communication. Training can significantly impact communication skills. Keywords : doctor-patient communication