Structural equation model study on the doctor-patients relationship evaluation influenced by the patients 'psychological factors

Abstract

Objective To study the relationships between patients' personality traits, coping styles, perceived social support and the doctor-patient relationship, try to build the relationship model of patients’ psychological factors and the doctor-patient relationship, and to understand the patients psychological factors influence on the doctor-patient relationship, to provide a basis for improving the doctor-patient relationship. Methods The doctor patient relationship evaluation questionnaire, Eysenck personality questionnaire revised, short scale for Chinese(EPQ-RSC), simplified coping style questionnaire(SCSQ) and perceived social support scale(PSSS) were used to survey 400 outpatients, using SPSS 22.0 and AMOS 17.0 for data analysis. Results There was statistically significant difference in psychoticism between the high and low doctor-patient relationship evaluation score groups(t=-4.537, P<0.01). There was statistically significant difference in positive coping, family support, friend support, other support and perceived social support between the high and low score groups(P<0.05). Psychoticism had a direct positive effect on doctor-patient relationship(r=0.228, P=0.000), and perceived social support had a direct negative effect on the doctor-patient relationship(r=-0.256, P=0.000). Psychoticism, neuroticism, positive coping and negative coping styles could affect the doctor-patient relationship indirectly by perceived social support. Conclusion Patient personality can affect the doctor-patient relationship directly, meanwhile, it can affect the doctor-patient relationship indirectly by perceived social support, and coping styles can only affect the doctor-patient relationship indirectly by perceived social support. Key words: Doctor-patient relationship; Personality; Coping style; Perceived social support; Structural equation model