How Patients View Their Doctors' Communication Skills
Author Information
Author(s): Baumann Michèle, Baumann Cédric, Le Bihan Etienne, Chau Nearkasen
Primary Institution: University of Luxembourg
Hypothesis
The study aims to assess how patients perceive the therapeutic communication skills of their general practitioners and how this perception affects their adherence to treatment.
Conclusion
The TCom-skill GP scale is valuable for assessing doctor-patient relationships and therapeutic communication, with adherence linked to communication skills and patient age.
Supporting Evidence
- The TCom-skill GP score was positively related to increasing age.
- Respondents aged 60+ were more likely to be adherent.
- The higher the TCom-skill GP score, the higher the probability of adherence.
Takeaway
This study shows that how well doctors communicate with their patients can affect whether patients follow their treatment plans, especially as they get older.
Methodology
Patients completed a self-administered questionnaire about their perceptions of their GP's communication skills and their adherence to treatment.
Potential Biases
Self-reported data may lead to overestimation of adherence due to social desirability bias.
Limitations
The study's cross-sectional design limits causal conclusions, and the sample may not represent the general population.
Participant Demographics
Average age of respondents was 46.8 years, with 50.4% being male.
Statistical Information
P-Value
<0.0001
Confidence Interval
[0.66–0.82]
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website