title: Changes in the degree of patient expectations for patient-centered care in a primary care setting.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To date, the medical environment has been undergoing continual changes. It is therefore imperative that clinicians recognize the changing trends in the degree of patient expectations for patient-centered care. We conducted this study to examine changes in the degree of patient expectations for patient-centered care and the related socio-demographic factors in a primary care setting over a 5-year period.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated patients' attitudes toward patient-centered care using the Patient-Practitioner Orientation Scale, which provides 'sharing' and 'caring' scores. The study included 359 and 468 patients in phase I (March-July, 2005) and II (March-July, 2010). We also examined the relationship of their changes to their socio-demographic factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In phase II, as compared with phase I, the 'sharing' score was higher (3.67 ± 0.68 vs. 3.82 ± 0.44; P < 0.001) and 'caring' one was lower (4.01 ± 0.57 vs. 3.67 ± 0.58; P = 0.001). Further, 'sharing' and 'caring' scores were associated with age, monthly income, education level, marital status, and the functional health status of patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results would be of help for providing patient-centered care for patients because it makes clinicians are aware of the degree to which patients' expect it.
authors: Department of Family Medicine, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Chang-Jin
authors: CJ
authors: Choi
authors: Department of Family Medicine, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Sun-Wook
authors: SW
authors: Hwang
authors: Department of Family Medicine, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Ha-Na
authors: HN
authors: Kim
keywords: Patient-Centered Care; Patients; Physician-Patient Relations; Primary Health Care