A Comparison between Patients’ and Residents’ Perceptions of Patient Centeredness and Communication Skills among Physicians Working at Jordan University Hospital

Abstract

Aim: This research aims to evaluate patient-centeredness and communication skills from the patients’ point of view and that of the physicians’ point of view and compares the two outcomes. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study with a convenient sample of 418 patients and 94 residents. Instrument of the study was a structured questionnaire that aimed to evaluate patient centeredness and communication skills of the residents. Results: Residents gave themselves a significantly higher score than the score given to them by patients in most studied aspects such as the extent to which the doctor discussed the patient’s problem, the extent to which the doctor explained the problem, the doctor introduced himself, the doctor greeted the patient properly and others. The only aspect for which patients gave residents higher score than that residents gave themselves was the extent to which the doctor asked the patient about what is expected to be done (ECG, CT scan, giving antibiotics, …). Conclusion: A transformation from doctor centered approach to patient centered approach is needed.