title: A comparison of the scorings of real and standardized patients on physician communication skills.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the scorings of real and standardized patients on physician communication skills.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patient scoring (n=183) on physicians' communication skills was determined by 93 real and 90 standardized patients. Eighty physicians (42 specialists and 38 general physicians) in private practice were enrolled. Data were analyzed using self administered questionnaires and checklists including 16 close ended questions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twelve percent of patients were not satisfied with the physician communication skills. Poor communication skills were more reported by male patients and those with a higher educational level. The physician communication skill received a higher score with increase of age of patients. A good physician's communication skill was reported more by married patients. A good physician's communication skill was significantly more in female doctors, in general physicians and in doctors wearing a White Coat. Real patients scored physician's communication skills higher than standardized patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is important that physicians try to learn the principles of a good physician-patient communication skill. Therefore, providing medical educational programs on the role of a good doctor and patient relationship at all levels for the doctors and applying them in their clinical practice seem necessary to improve the physician communication skills.
authors.affiliation: Rita Rezaei, PhD, Department of Medical Education, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rezaei
authors.affiliation: G Mehrabani, MD, Stem Cell and Transgenic Technology Research Center, Student Research Committee, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mehrabani
keywords: Patients rating; Physician communication skills