What does a human relationship with the doctor mean?

Abstract

Previous studies have demonstrated that the human relationship with the doctor is very important. The aim of this study was to describe the specific behaviour in consultations where the patient experiences a satisfying human relationship with the family doctor. 46 consultations with 12 participating general practitioners were video-taped in four health care centres. Afterwards the patients and the doctors, on different occasions, commented on the recorded consultations. The comments were audio-taped. Those comments of the patients which dealt with human relationship to the doctor were analysed. The sequences in the videotaped consultations just before these comments were transcribed and analysed. The study demonstrated that the concrete meaning of human relationship deals with simple and obvious things. The patients want the doctor to take their symptoms seriously; to listen and/or ask questions about the symptoms, and to treat the patient as a real person, not only a patient; to ask questions about other things than the disease, e.g. about the patient's family or work. © 1992 Informa UK Ltd All rights reserved: reproduction in whole or part not permitted.