Physician Attitudes and Their Impact on Patient Understanding and Overall Health: Crafting a Program to Improve Patient Compliance and Medical Awareness

Patient-physician interactions are the cornerstone of healthcare delivery, with the potential to significantly influence patient outcomes and healthcare efficiency. The quality of patient-physician interactions is pivotal in facilitating efficient communication concerning patient care and treatment. This relationship impacts the patient's adherence to medical advice and trust in healthcare. Considering the diversity of the patient population, there are a multitude of pertinent variables to take into account, including but not limited to English proficiency, race, educational attainment, age, gender, and socioeconomic status. How do patient-physician communication patterns and demographic variables impact patient comprehension, perception of communication efficacy, and healthcare outcomes across diverse cultural, linguistic, and socioeconomic backgrounds? The purpose of this thesis is to comprehensively understand the characteristics underlying effective patient-physician communication and its impact on patient compliance, retention of medical information, and healthcare outcomes. By addressing racial, cultural, linguistic, and socioeconomic disparities in healthcare, the research aims to establish a universal foundation for augmenting patient-centered care. The methodology of this research included an extensive literature review, shadowing of clinical visits, and patient care, along with the distribution of a survey to patients to gain insight into their satisfaction with healthcare. Practical applications include the development of targeted interventions, communication training programs for healthcare providers, and the formulation of policies aimed at improving patient outcomes and healthcare system efficiency. This research paper investigates the impact of physician attitudes on patient understanding and overall health through a comprehensive analysis of survey data collected from 115 individuals attending various clinics. Our findings highlight the significance of quality healthcare delivery in fostering favorable patient experiences, with 63.5% of respondents rating their visits as excellent or very good. Effective communication emerges as a key determinant of patient satisfaction, with 64.4% of respondents rating communication as excellent or very good. However, a notable proportion of respondents (26.9%) rated their overall satisfaction as neutral or dissatisfied, indicating areas for improvement in patient satisfaction related to unaddressed concerns or inadequate communication. Gender-related concerns, reactive versus proactive medicine, mental health, and shared decision-making emerge as overlooked topics in current clinical practice. Our observations underscore the need for a holistic approach that addresses patients' psychosocial and emotional needs alongside medical concerns. Gender-related differences in care delivery are evident, with female patients reporting feeling dismissed or misunderstood by male doctors, particularly regarding issues related to pain or reproductive health. Female physicians are associated with a greater likelihood of receiving preventive counseling and gender-specific screening, highlighting the importance of gender diversity in healthcare. Furthermore, patients express frustration with a reactive approach to medicine, advocating for a higher focus on addressing the underlying causes of health issues rather than merely treating symptoms. Patients also desire more information about natural remedies and holistic treatment options, emphasizing the importance of incorporating these discussions into shared decision-making between doctors and patients. The study underscores the pivotal role of specific provider qualities such as communication, empathy, and attention to patient comfort in patient-centered care delivery. The comprehension and cooperation rating between the doctor and patient was 81.8% excellent and good with a remaining of 18.2% indicating the need for a more interactive visit. Based on the survey, the important qualities of a provider from highest to lowest ranking include: communication (listening and understanding), empathy and kindness, medical knowledge proficiency, and quality listening. Due to the heavy importance on communication, it is imperative for healthcare providers to gain the necessary skills to cater to and address many of the concerns of their patients outside of simple medical knowledge. Given the doctor explanation comprehension rating of 25.2% being somewhat clear and not so clear, it is necessary for providers to develop their patient communication skills to optimize patient satisfaction and compliance. Cultural competency emerges as a critical aspect of providing effective and equitable care to patients from diverse backgrounds. However, there are limitations to the study, including the relatively small sample size and potential response bias. The findings of this study provide valuable insights into the multifaceted nature of the doctor-patient interaction and underscore the importance of effective communication, patient-centered care, and shared decision-making in promoting positive patient outcomes. According to the patient experience survey, talking more in depth about the patient treatment plan and taking the time to display eagerness to help and be active in one’s health will significantly enhance visit satisfaction. In addition to patients' ratings of physician level of empathy and respect consisting of 93% of respondents as exceeded or met expectations, the patient confidence in their health situation out of 10 was 6 and above for 90 percent of the survey respondents. However, with the shared decision making rating, 28.3% of respondents felt being somewhat involved or a little involved in their own care. By addressing patient needs and preferences and fostering collaborative relationships between physicians and patients, healthcare providers can enhance patient satisfaction, adherence to treatment recommendations, and overall health outcomes.