Face to face information seeking behavior of patients and impact on in-clinic satisfaction

Abstract

Patients seek health related information from the doctor to seek assurance, to help them to decide on the future course of action, or, for the sake of knowledge. The information seeking behavior of patients is dependent on a number of factors, such as, the doctors' communication style, gender, consultation time, and, direct waiting time, amongst others. This study investigates differences in behavior between information seeking patients and non-information seeking patients in outpatient clinics in India, which is a medically underserved nation. Results show that differences exist in the satisfaction level of information seekers and non-seekers in that the non-seekers were less satisfied. Information-seeking behavior of patients was found to be related to both situational variables and socio-demographic characteristics. Information seeking patients in India were inhibited by the expressive (also known as the controlling style of the doctors). The assumption that Indian women are hesitant to seek information from the doctor is unfounded; more males than females were non-information seekers in the doctor–patient interaction. The research recommends a socio-structural approach to address the health care issues in India.