Korean J Fam Med.  2015 Mar;36(2):103-112. 10.4082/kjfm.2015.36.2.103.

Changes in the Degree of Patient Expectations for Patient-Centered Care in a Primary Care Setting

• Choi CJ
• Hwang SW
• Kim HN

• KMID: 2304129
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4082/kjfm.2015.36.2.103

Abstract

BACKGROUND
To date, the medical environment has been undergoing continual changes. It is therefore imperative that clinicians recognize the changing trends in the degree of patient expectations for patient-centered care. We conducted this study to examine changes in the degree of patient expectations for patient-centered care and the related socio-demographic factors in a primary care setting over a 5-year period.
METHODS
We evaluated patients' attitudes toward patient-centered care using the Patient-Practitioner Orientation Scale, which provides 'sharing' and 'caring' scores. The study included 359 and 468 patients in phase I (March-July, 2005) and II (March-July, 2010). We also examined the relationship of their changes to their socio-demographic factors.
RESULTS
In phase II, as compared with phase I, the 'sharing' score was higher (3.67 +/- 0.68 vs. 3.82 +/- 0.44; P < 0.001) and 'caring' one was lower (4.01 +/- 0.57 vs. 3.67 +/- 0.58; P = 0.001). Further, 'sharing' and 'caring' scores were associated with age, monthly income, education level, marital status, and the functional health status of patients.
CONCLUSION
These results would be of help for providing patient-centered care for patients because it makes clinicians are aware of the degree to which patients' expect it.

Keyword

Patients; Patient-Centered Care; Physician-Patient Relations; Primary Health Care

MeSH Terms

Education
Humans
Marital Status
Patient-Centered Care*
Physician-Patient Relations
Primary Health Care*