Good communication is the most important factor in the doctor-patient relationship according to a new survey.

What patients want most is information from their doctors - and they'll dump a physician who doesn't take the time and effort to give it them. Researchers at Harvard Medical School asked over 2,000 people about their relationship with their doctor. They covered how well the doctors informed and explained treatment options, whether they took time to address their concerns, and whether they involved them in decision-making.

Overall, 12 per cent of the patients had considered changing doctors and the main factor driving their dissatisfaction was poor communication. They also considered making a change when they felt the doctor wasn't ordering a test or investigation the patient thought necessary. In fact, these difficulties can be overcome by good communication - if the doctor just explains why the test isn't appropriate.

While the survey showed that people's experience of doctors is, on the whole, positive, it also reveals just how much patients value information. A little extra investment in communication with their patients could bring rewards in terms of improved doctor-patient relationships.

Source

Journal of General Internal Medicine January 2002