Table 2 The family physicians’ knowledge and practice towards doctor- patient communication
From: Doctor-patient communication skills: a survey on knowledge and practice of Iranian family physicians
Knowledge Questions | Strongly agree | Agree | Neutral | Disagree | Strongly disagree |
1-When initiating a visit, the physician should greet the patient | 310 (77.5) | 88 (22.0) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 2 (0.5) |
2-In baseline visit, the physician should introduce himself/herself to the patient | 279 (69.8) | 114 (28.5) | 7 (1.8) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) |
3- At the start of interview, asking open-ended, non-directive questions, encourages patient to tell the story of the problem(s) | 271 (67.8) | 126 (31.5) | 2 (0.5) | 1 (0.3) | 0 (0.0) |
4- Physician should actively listen to and avoid interrupting patients before they could express their concerns | 246 (61.5) | 147 (36.8) | 6 (1.5) | 1 (0.3) | 0 (0.0) |
5- Maintaining consistent eye contact with the patient shows that the doctor is attentive towards his/her patient | 143 (35.8) | 235 (58.8) | 18 (4.5) | 4 (1.0) | 0 (0.0) |
6- Physician should acquiesce to patient request for unnecessary tests when the patient is not convinced by a rational argumentation (reverse question) | 19 (4.8) | 65 (16.3) | 64 (16.0) | 177 (44.3) | 75 (18.8) |
7-Physician is usually unable to resolve patient's emotional, family and social problems and therefore should not deal with such issues (reverse question) | 0(0.0) | 3(0.8) | 109(27.3) | 216(54.0) | 72(18.0) |
8-The physician should encourage patients to express their expectations, so that they could comfortably address their information needs | 41(10.3) | 241(60.3) | 112(28.0) | 5(1.3) | 1(0.3) |
9-Physician should display emotional reactions to the patient's intense feelings such as sadness or stress and express regret over the patient's problems. (reverse question) | 1(0.3) | 6(1.5) | 147(36.8) | 216(54.0) | 30(7.5) |
10-Physician should enable the patient to actively participate in the decision-making process | 32 (8.0) | 207 (51.7) | 140 (35.0) | 21(5.3) | 0 (0.0) |
Practice questions | Always | Often | Occasionally | Seldom | Never |
1- When I meet a patient, I'll try to greet him/her first | 289 (72.3) | 108 (27.0) | 3 (0.8) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) |
2- When I meet patients for the first time, I'll introduce myself | 292 (73.0) | 79 (19.8) | 26 (6.5) | 3 (0.8) | 0 (0.0) |
3- When starting a visit, I prefer to ask open-ended questions rather than closed ones | 287 (71.8) | 107 (26.8) | 4 (1.0) | 0 (0.0) | 2 (0.5) |
4- I’ll interrupt a talkative patient who is wasting my time. (reverse question) | 21 (5.3) | 37 (9.3) | 150 (37.5) | 111(27.8) | 81 (20.3) |
5-I maintain eye contact with the patient throughout the interview | 208(52.0) | 173(43.3) | 16(4.0) | 1(0.3) | 2(0.5) |
6- When patients ask for unnecessary test(s), I'll negotiate to understand and resolve their concerns and try to discourage them by explaining that the requested test(s) yields little or no value | 67 (16.8) | 268 (67.0) | 58 (14.5) | 6 (1.5) | 1 (0.3) |
7- I will not deal with the patient's emotional and family problems, because I am not able to resolve such problems. (reverse question) | 70(17.5) | 130(32.5) | 109(27.3) | 76(19.0) | 15(3.8) |
8-I am too busy and don’t have time to offer a detailed explanation to patient about his/her potential problems (reverse question) | 15(3.8) | 60(15.0) | 51(12.8) | 160(40.0) | 114(28.5) |
9-I react to patient's intense feelings such as sadness and express my emotions. (reverse question) | 37(9.3) | 131(32.8) | 151(37.8) | 74(18.5) | 7(1.8) |
10-I ask my patient to actively participate in making any decision or care plan | 32(8.0) | 214(53.5) | 144(36.0) | 10(2.5) | 0(0.0) |