Question of 'patients' versus 'clients'.
Our study showed that of the 300 consecutive people interviewed at the General Hospital at Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, most persons (80%) preferred to be called 'patients' as opposed to 7% choosing the term 'client' and 6% opting for the term 'customer'. This proves our hypothesis that in the developing world people prefer to maintain the doctor-patient relationship and leave the word 'client' and 'customer' for the businessman.
Ramdass
M J
MJ
Department of Surgery, University of the West Indies, General Hospital, Port-of Spain, Trinidad, West Indies. jramdass@tstt.net.tt
Naraynsingh
V
V
Maharaj
D
D
Badloo
K
K
Teelucksingh
S
S
Perry
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D015285:Hospital-Patient Relations; D006769:Hospitals, General; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010361:Patients; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D009626:Terminology as Topic; D014300:Trinidad and Tobago