Communication in the Doctor-Patient Relationship

摘要

This is a pathfinding study to identify problems which interfere in communication between doctor and patient. This was accomplished by interview techniques including: tape recording of actual clinical interviews, questionnaires, and post consultation discussions by researchers with the doctor and the patient. These were 59 adult, first visit, outpatient clinic encounters, randomly selected at three clinics in major cities of Colombia. Patients were from urban and rural populations. Doctors were staff physicians, residents, and fourth year medical students. Only 14% of patients and 10% of doctors referred to verbal communication problems. Observation, however, indicated a larger problem with patients questioning paramedical personnel and other patients after the interview with the doctor. Patients showed moderate understanding of clinical terms. Understanding was dependent on sex, age, formal education, and origin. The doctors and patients grouped themselves into certain broad categories (ex., doctors -- Bureaucratic Task Oriented; Insecure Detailed; Self Assured; Amiable, Person Oriented). Categories, interactions with patient categories, and organizational environment effects are discussed. (Author)