Objective To investigate patients in gynecological endocrinology clinic with the following three pieces of information: how did they provide their symptom information, how did they understand diagnostic and therapeutic information, and what was their attitude towards the visit, and to get to know about the situation and problems in doctor-patient communication, so as to aim directly at improving the efficiency of diagnosis and treatment.
Methods A total of 403 patients, who visited Prof. HAN Zi-yan’s clinic in the hospital from April to August 2010, were evaluated using self-edited Assessment on Doctor-patient Communication in Gynecological Endocrinology Outpatient Clinic.
Results a) As to the situation of patients providing symptom information as well as understanding diagnostic and therapeutic information, when doctor asked, only 29% (118/403) of patients could narrate their treatment history clearly, and 38% (152/403) could tell their examination history exactly. After doctors’ explanation, only 21% (86/403) understood their examination results correctly, and 27% (108/403) understood management and therapeutic advice. The result of correlation analysis showed the accuracy of patients in providing disease information and accepting diagnostic and therapeutic information was higher in patients aged from 21 to 40 rather than those younger than 20, in patients well- educated rather than those with little education at the primary school, and in patients who were also engaged in medical work, All differences were significant (all P lt;0.05); and b) As to patients’ attitude towards visit, 55% (222/403) of patients hoped to get more attention from doctor, and 37.5% (151/403) overly expected the visit.
Conclusion In the professor’s gynecological endocrinology outpatient clinic, many patients can’t clearly provide their treatment and examination history, neither understand exam situation and therapeutic advice at that visit, which are influenced by their age, education and occupation. In addition, psychological needs of patients should be concerned, too
Citation: LI Xiaohong,SHE Wenjing,HAN Ziyan,LEI Haike. A Survey on Doctor-Patient Communication in Gynecological Endocrinology Outpatient Clinic. Chinese Journal of Evidence-Based Medicine, 2012, 12(6): 642-646. doi: 10.7507/1672-2531.20120105 Copy