Patient reflections: saying good-bye to a retiring family doctor.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to describe the doctor-patient relationship as expressed in written comments to a retiring family physician.


METHODS
All 200 of the written notes and e-mails to a single family physician retiring after 42 years in practice were examined using content analysis for general themes and meaning. No phone or personal verbal responses were included.


RESULTS
Seven themes emerged with regards to what patients appreciated in their family physician relationship. These included "being there," caring, medical expertise, personal characteristics, multiple roles/anything goes, family, and continuity.


CONCLUSIONS
Analyzing comments from actual patients at the end of a long-term relationship with an individual physician confirms beliefs of what patients consider important based on theoretical models, surveys, and interviews.
Merenstein
Beth
B
Department of Sociology, Central Connecticut State University, 1615 Stanley Street, New Britain, CT 06050, USA. merensteinb@ccsu.edu
Merenstein
Joel
J
D003142:Communication; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D010821:Physicians, Family / Q000523:psychology*; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012179:Retirement / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States