Original article
The effects of physician communications skills on patient satisfaction; Recall, and adherence

https://doi.org/10.1016/0021-9681(84)90044-4Get rights and content

Abstract

An understanding of means to improve patient adherence to the therapeutic regimen is a subject of increasing concern in medical care. This study examined the effects of physician interpersonal skills and teaching on patient satisfaction, recall, and adherence to the regimen. We studied the ambulatory visits of 63 patients to five medical residents at a teaching hospital in Baltimore.

It was found that quality of interpersonal skills influenced patient outcomes more than quantity of teaching and instruction. Secondary analyses found that all the effects of physician communication skills on patient adherence are mediated by patient satisfaction and recall. These findings indicate that the physician might pay particular attention to these two variables in trying to improve patient adherence, and that enhancing patient satisfaction may be pivotal to the care of patients with chronic illness.

References (39)

  • MR DiMatteo

    Patient's perceptions of physicians' behavior: Determinants of patient commitment to the therapeutic relationship

    J Commun Hlth

    (1975)
  • WB Stiles

    Interaction exchange and patient satisfaction with medical interviews

    Med Care

    (1979)
  • M Becker

    Motivations as predictors of health behavior

    Hlth Serv Rep

    (1972)
  • J Kincey

    Satisfaction and reported acceptance of advice in general practice: A preliminary study

    J R Coll Gen Prac

    (1975)
  • P Ley

    Towards better doctor-patient communications

  • JE Ware

    The measurement and meaning of patient satisfaction

    Health Med Care Serv Rev

    (1978)
  • BS Hulka

    Communication, compliance, and concordance between physicians and patients with prescribed medications

    Am J Publ Health

    (1976)
  • P Ley et al.

    Communications in an out-patient setting

    Br J Soc Clin Psychol

    (1965)
  • CRB Joyce

    Quantitative study of doctor-patient communication

    Q J Med

    (1969)
  • Cited by (296)

    • Patient-Specific E-mailed Discharge Instructions Improve Patient Satisfaction and Patient Understanding After Surgical Arthroscopy

      2022, Arthroscopy, Sports Medicine, and Rehabilitation
      Citation Excerpt :

      Patient satisfaction has been identified as a key factor in determining the overall success of Orthopedic Surgeries.1-3 Patients who are satisfied with their care have been found to have higher rates of follow-up, fewer hospital readmissions, and adhere to treatment plans.4-8 Surgeon communication skills and information provided to patients at discharge are two modifiable factors that have been found to directly affect patient satisfaction.9-14

    • Dairy producer satisfaction and knowledge transfer with the veterinary-administered risk assessment and management plan in a voluntary Johne's disease control program

      2022, Journal of Dairy Science
      Citation Excerpt :

      Satisfaction with care, visits, and appointments is considered to be an important outcome of medical encounters in human and veterinary medicine (Woodcock and Barleggs, 2005; Coe et al., 2010; Shaw et al., 2016). Measuring satisfaction in medicine has become important for several reasons, including to evaluate the quality of health care provided (Sitzia and Wood, 1997; Jackson et al., 2001; Bragadóttir and Reed, 2002), to isolate problem areas in service delivery and generate ideas for solutions (Locker and Dunt, 1978; Jackson et al., 2001), and to improve compliance with health care regimens, changes, and recommendations (Larsen and Rootman, 1976; Bartlett et al., 1984; Bell et al., 2002). To measure client satisfaction in companion animal practice, 2 questionnaires have been developed and validated, the veterinary service satisfaction questionnaire (VSSQ; Woodcock and Barleggs, 2005) and the client satisfaction questionnaire (CSQ; Coe et al., 2010).

    View all citing articles on Scopus

    Research conducted at the Primary Care Residency Program, Baltimore City Hospital, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21224.

    View full text