Physician characteristics and the physician-patient relationship. Impact of sex, year of graduation, and specialty.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the association of physician sex, medical specialty, and year of graduation from medical school with attitudes and behaviours that define physician-patient relationships. Hypotheses tested are that women physicians, family physicians, and recent graduates spend more time discussing lifestyle and general health issues during patients' first visits; are more likely to report behaviours that are empathetic and that encourage communication with patients; are less likely to view their role as directive and problem-oriented; and are more supportive of patients' rights to information and participation in decision making.


METHODS
A survey was mailed to a stratified random sample of physicians between February and June 1996.


METHODS
Physician practices in Ontario.


METHODS
Of 714 practising Ontario physicians, 405 (57%) responded.


METHODS
Proportion of time and actual time spent discussing a patient's lifestyle during a first visit, communication style, attitudes regarding a directive approach to care, and attitudes regarding patients' rights.


RESULTS
Women physicians and family physicians spent significantly more time discussing lifestyle during a first visit. Women, family physicians, and recent graduates were significantly more likely to report an empathetic communication style. Women and recent graduates were significantly less likely to have a directive, problem-oriented approach to care. Family physicians were significantly less supportive of patients' rights than medical and surgical specialists were.


CONCLUSIONS
Physicians in this study reported empathetic communication styles and attitudes that support information sharing and patients' rights.
Barnsley
J
J
Department of Health Administration, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Ontario. jan.barnsley@utoronto.ca
Williams
A P
AP
Cockerill
R
R
Tanner
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003142:Communication; D003657:Decision Making; D004645:Empathy; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008511:Medicine; D008875:Middle Aged; D010344:Patient Advocacy; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D010822:Physicians, Women; D012737:Sex Factors; D013038:Specialization