Psychosocial factors in medical and psychological treatment avoidance: the role of the doctor-patient relationship.
A community sample of 1106 adults was examined to assess the impact of the doctor-patient relationship on participants' avoidance of treatment for a recognized medical or psychological problem. Of five aspects of participants' previous experience with their physicians, all but waiting time predicted participants' self-reported treatment avoidance. In two logistic regression models participants who felt their physicians listened more to their concerns were less likely to avoid treatment for both medical and psychological problems during the previous 12 months. These findings suggest that patients' perceptions of how they are treated by physicians may help explain why many people delay or avoid healthcare treatment, even when faced with a significant health problem.
Moore
Philip J
PJ
Department of Psychology, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA. pjmoore@gwu.edu
Sickel
Amy E
AE
Malat
Jennifer
J
Williams
David
D
Jackson
James
J
Adler
Nancy E
NE
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D016312:Treatment Refusal / Q000523:psychology*