Patients do not know the level of training of their doctors because doctors do not tell them.
METHODS
Although patients should know the level of training of the physician providing their care in teaching hospitals, many do not.


OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study is to determine whether the manner by which physicians introduce themselves to patients is associated with patients' misperception of the level of training of their physician.


METHODS
This was an observational study of 100 patient-physician interactions in a teaching emergency department.


RESULTS
Residents introduced themselves as a doctor 82% of the time but identified themselves as a resident only 7% of the time. While attending physicians introduced themselves as a "doctor" 64% of the time, only 6% identified themselves as the supervising physician. Patients felt it was very important to know their physicians' level of training, but most did not.


CONCLUSIONS
Physicians in our sample were rarely specific about their level of training and role in patient care when introducing themselves to patients. This lack of communication may contribute to patients' lack of knowledge regarding who is caring for them in a teaching hospital.
Santen
Sally A
SA
Department of Higher Education Leadership, Policy Organization, Vanderbilt Peabody College, Nashville, TN, USA. sally.santen@vanderbilt.edu
Rotter
Tricia S
TS
Hemphill
Robin R
RR
D000328:Adult; D003142:Communication; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D010820:Physicians / Q000592:standards*; D011361:Professional Competence; D012650:Self Disclosure; D014342:Truth Disclosure; D000078329:Workforce