Four physician communication styles in routine Japanese outpatient medical encounters.
BACKGROUND
Few studies have explored how physicians approach medical encounters in Japan.


OBJECTIVE
This study examined how Japanese physicians conduct routine medical encounters in the context of outpatient care to patients with nonmalignant disorders.


METHODS
Qualitative study using semi-structured interviews and direct observation.


METHODS
The outpatient department of a general hospital located in an urban area of Japan.


METHODS
Physicians and nurses providing care and patients receiving care for nonmalignant disorders.


RESULTS
A 2-dimensional model was developed, with patient communication (how physician interacted with patients) along 1 axis, and nurse communication (how physicians collaborated with nursing staff) along the other axis. Four physician communication styles (individually adaptive, individually defined, collaboratively adaptive, and collaboratively defined) were identified as typical ways in which the Japanese physicians in the sample interacted with patients and nurses during routine medical encounters.


CONCLUSIONS
Results suggest the need for a multiprovider-patient model of medical communication among physician, nurse, and patient. Further research is needed to establish the applicability of this model to the communication styles of physicians in other countries.
Slingsby
Brian Taylor
BT
Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
Yamada
Seiji
S
Akabayashi
Akira
A
D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000379:methods*; D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic / Q000379:methods; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D010820:Physicians