The physician's role. Views of the public and the profession on seven aspects of patient care
C. A. McBride, D. A. Shugars, M. R. DiMatteo, H. S. Lepper, E. H. O'Neil and T. M. Damush
Department of Psychology, University of California-Riverside.
OBJECTIVES: To determine the importance of various areas of physician
competency and to assess the public's ratings of their own physicians.
DESIGN: A nationwide household telephone survey. PARTICIPANTS: A random
sample of 640 US adults (61% response rate). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Ratings
of importance and physicians' competencies in diagnosing and treating
illness, communication, ethical conduct, cooperation with other health care
professionals, promotion of preventive care, use of technology, and
consideration of the cost of care to the patient. RESULTS: Physicians were
rated lowest on communication skills and on attention to the costs of the
recommended treatment. A comparison of the results with a similar survey of
physicians shows that physicians rate their training the lowest in these
same areas. Physicians in general practice were rated lower on several
competencies than were other physicians. CONCLUSIONS: Health care consumers
and physicians share similar values about what is important in the role of
a physician. In the areas of communication and attention to the costs of
treatment, public needs are not always being met.
