Doctor-patient Relationship Improved During COVID-19 Pandemic, but Weakness Remains

Overview

Journal BMC Fam Pract

Publisher Biomed Central

Specialties Health Services
Public Health

Date 2021 Dec 23

PMID 34937550

Citations 18

Authors

Yanan Zhou

Yuejiao Ma

Winson Fu Zun Yang

Qiuxia Wu

Qianjin Wang

Dongfang Wang

Honghong Ren

Yinli Luo

Dong Yang

Tieqiao Liu

Xiaoming Wu

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objective: To assess the quality of the doctor-patient relationship (DPR) in China and possible influencing factors during the COVID-19 period from the patient's perspective.

Methods: An online survey was carried out nationwide from March 12, 2020 to March 30, 2020 in China via a convenience sampling strategy. Patients who met the inclusion criteria were invited to complete a questionnaire regarding the quality of DPR, including sociodemographic information, the Patient-Doctor Relationship Questionnaire (PDRQ-9), and influencing factors for DPR during the pandemic.

Results: A total of 1903 patients were included. Our result showed that participants had a higher PDRQ-9 score during the COVID-19 pandemic (4.18 ± 0.51) than that before the COVID-19 pandemic (3.86 ± 0.67). Importance-performance analysis (IPA) revealed that doctor-patient communication, patient satisfaction, consultation time, doctor's attitude, and medical knowledge were specific aspects that needed to be prioritized to improve the DPR. Multiple linear regression analysis suggested that positive media reports, telemedicine, and national policies had a significantly positive effect on the DPR during the pandemic (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: In general, the DPR had been improved during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our research found the key points that needed to be prioritized to improve the DPR during the pandemic, which may provide effective suggestions for building a harmonious DPR in the future.

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