Maria Angela Mazzi1, Michela Rimondini2, Egbert van der Zee3, Wienke Boerma4, Christa Zimmermann2, Jozien Bensing4. 1. University of Verona, Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Italy. Electronic address: mariangela.mazzi@univr.it. 2. University of Verona, Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Italy. 3. University of Leuven, Division of Geography and Tourism, Belgium. 4. NIVEL, Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research, The Netherlands.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To assess European patients' preferences regarding seven aspects of doctor-patient communication. METHODS: 6049 patients from 31 European countries evaluated 21 doctor and 12 patient behaviours, through a patient-generated questionnaire (PCVq). Multilevel models explored the effects of patient characteristics, contextual and cultural dimensions on preferences. RESULTS: Patients attributed more responsibility to doctors, by giving greater importance to doctor than to patient factors, in particular to Treating the patient as a partner and as a person and Continuity of care. Gender, age, education, the presence of chronic illness and two of Hofstede's cultural dimensions, Individualism and Indulgence, showed differential evaluations among patients. Women gave greater importance to all seven communication aspects, older patients to being prepared for the consultation, lower educated patients to Treating patient as a person and Thoughtful planning. Patients from countries with an indulgent background rated all seven communication aspects of greater importance. A more individualistic orientation was related to lower importance regarding the four doctor's factors and the patient factor Open and Honest. CONCLUSIONS: Treating the patient as a person and providing continuity of care emerged as universal values. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: The findings should represent a landmark for the adaptation of patient-generated communication guidelines and programs in Europe.
OBJECTIVE: To assess European patients' preferences regarding seven aspects of doctor-patient communication. METHODS: 6049 patients from 31 European countries evaluated 21 doctor and 12 patient behaviours, through a patient-generated questionnaire (PCVq). Multilevel models explored the effects of patient characteristics, contextual and cultural dimensions on preferences. RESULTS:Patients attributed more responsibility to doctors, by giving greater importance to doctor than to patient factors, in particular to Treating the patient as a partner and as a person and Continuity of care. Gender, age, education, the presence of chronic illness and two of Hofstede's cultural dimensions, Individualism and Indulgence, showed differential evaluations among patients. Women gave greater importance to all seven communication aspects, older patients to being prepared for the consultation, lower educated patients to Treating patient as a person and Thoughtful planning. Patients from countries with an indulgent background rated all seven communication aspects of greater importance. A more individualistic orientation was related to lower importance regarding the four doctor's factors and the patient factor Open and Honest. CONCLUSIONS: Treating the patient as a person and providing continuity of care emerged as universal values. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: The findings should represent a landmark for the adaptation of patient-generated communication guidelines and programs in Europe.
Keywords:
Contextual and individual features; Cross-national research; Hofstede’s cultural dimensions; Multilevel linear regressions; Patient consultation values questionnaire; Patients’ preferences; Primary care communication
Authors: Angela Tolotti; Serena Barello; Camilla Vignaduzzo; Sarah Jayne Liptrott; Dario Valcarenghi; Tiziana Nania; Davide Sari; Loris Bonetti Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-09-15 Impact factor: 4.614