Patient reflections: saying good-bye to a retiring family doctor.

摘要

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to describe the doctor-patient relationship as expressed in written comments to a retiring family physician. METHODS: All 200 of the written notes and e-mails to a single family physician retiring after 42 years in practice were examined using content analysis for general themes and meaning. No phone or personal verbal responses were included. RESULTS: Seven themes emerged with regards to what patients appreciated in their family physician relationship. These included "being there," caring, medical expertise, personal characteristics, multiple roles/anything goes, family, and continuity. CONCLUSION: Analyzing comments from actual patients at the end of a long-term relationship with an individual physician confirms beliefs of what patients consider important based on theoretical models, surveys, and interviews.