title: [Current patient perceptions of the physician].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The structure and organisation of German hospitals currently are undergoing radical change forced by reforms in the German public health system. Operating procedures, efficiency assays, and management programs compete with the traditional philanthropic relationship between physician and patient. To analyse this problem by scientific means, inpatients were interviewed in standardised fashion on current expectations, ideals, and experience with that relationship.
  
  
  METHODS
  During 4 weeks, 507 inpatients were interviewed. The structured questionnaire used consisted of nine closed multiple-choice questions. The proband sex ratio was balanced, and their age pattern represented the typical patient collective in our clinic.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The patient perception of physicians' roles described clear priorities. Besides a skilled expert, the patients were looking for a friend and guide through their disease, diagnosis, and therapy. The paternalistic relationship between physician and patient thus is not very antiquated. In contrast, material institutional criteria, provision of services, and hotel-like atmosphere played secondary roles.
authors.affiliation: Klinik und Poliklinik für Chirurgie, RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen. ckrones@ukaachen.de
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Krones
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Willis
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Steinau
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Schumpelick
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001290:Attitude; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D018166:Health Care Reform; D006739:Hospital Administration; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009313:National Health Programs; D010348:Patient Care Team; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010819:Physician's Role / Q000523:psychology*; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires