title: Qualities of a good Singaporean psychiatrist: Qualitative differences between psychiatrists and patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pilot studies in Singapore established four themes (personal values, professional, relationship, academic-executive) relating to the qualities of a good psychiatrist, and suggested potential differences of opinion between patients and psychiatrists. We sought to explore differences between patients and psychiatrists regarding the qualities of a good psychiatrist.
  
  
  METHODS
  Qualitative analysis of interviews using a modified grounded theory approach with 21 voluntary psychiatric inpatients and 18 psychiatrists.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred thirty-one separate qualities emerged from the data. The qualities of a good psychiatrist were viewed in the context of motivations, functions, methods, and results obtained, mirroring the themes established in the pilot studies. Patients and psychiatrists mostly concurred on the qualities of a good psychiatrist, with 62.6% of the qualities emerging from both groups. However significant differences existed. Patient-specific qualities included proof of altruistic motives, diligence, clinical competence, and positive results. What the psychiatrist represented to patients in relation to gender, culture, and clinical prestige also mattered to patients. Psychiatrist-specific qualities related to societal (e.g. public protection) and professional concerns (e.g. boundary issues).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study demonstrate that patients and psychiatrists have different views about the qualities of a good psychiatrist. Patients may expect proof of care, diligence, and competence from the psychiatrist, along with positive results. In addition, psychiatrists should be mindful of what they represent to patients and how that can impact the doctor-patient relationship.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological Medicine, National University Hospital, Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: Phern-Chern
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Tor
authors.forename: Jacinta O A
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Tan
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence; D006801:Humans; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011570:Psychiatry; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012846:Singapore
keywords: Asian; Singapore; psychiatry; qualitative; quality