Important qualities in physiatrists: perceptions of rehabilitation team members and patients.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the personal qualities important in physiatrists as described by patients and rehabilitation team members.


METHODS
An oral survey.


METHODS
Adult rehabilitation service at a teaching rehabilitation institution affiliated with an academic medical center.


METHODS
Convenience sample of 171 people including inpatients, rehabilitation nurses, occupational and physical therapists, and resident and full-time attending physicians.


METHODS
Two questions to elicit the personal qualities that were considered important in a physical medicine and rehabilitation physician.


METHODS
Subjects' responses grouped as personal qualities (personality), working qualities (professionalism), competence, caring, and collegiality.


RESULTS
Caring and competence qualities were the most important to patients. Collegiality and caring were valued most by the rehabilitation staff. Personal qualities and competence were of relatively greater importance to the physiatrists.


CONCLUSIONS
There was significant variability in the relative. value assigned to each of the five groups of traits among the respondents. Knowledge of the desires and expectations of the people involved in the rehabilitation process may benefit rehabilitation patients, physicians, and staff.
Moroz
A
A
Howard A. Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, New York University Medical Center, New York, USA.
Prufer
N
N
Rosen
Z
Z
Eisenberg
C
C
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004645:Empathy; D006801:Humans; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology*; D010551:Personality; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D010810:Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine; D012047:Rehabilitation Centers