title: Accurate diagnosis of patients' distress levels: The effect of family physicians' ability to take the patient's perspective.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Previous research on diagnosis of distress among patients with physical ailments has focused on physicians who specialize in the treatment of chronic illness. This study explores family physicians' accuracy in diagnosing patients' emotional distress.
  
  
  METHODS
  Questionnaires were administered to family physicians (N=61) and their patients (N=496) immediately after a medical encounter. Patients reported their distress levels. Physicians evaluated patients' distress levels and filled out a questionnaire measuring perspective-taking, i.e., the tendency to perceive the point of view of others.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mixed model analyses of nested data showed a moderate positive relationship between physicians' evaluations of patients' distress and patients' self-reported distress. Diagnosis of distress was more accurate among family physicians with a better ability to take the patient's perspective.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Family physicians' capacity to accurately diagnose patient distress is positively related to their ability to adopt patients' viewpoint.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Family physicians' training should include enhancement of physicians' ability to take the patient's perspective.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Services, University of Haifa, Israel. Electronic address: dyagil@research.haifa.ac.il.
authors.forename: Dana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yagil
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Management, University of Haifa, Israel.
authors.forename: Michal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Biron
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Management, University of Haifa, Israel.
authors.forename: Dalit
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pat
authors.affiliation: Maccabi Health Services, Israel.
authors.forename: Miri
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mizrahi-Reuveni
authors.affiliation: Maccabi Health Services, Israel.
authors.forename: Lilach
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zoller
keywords: Distress; Emotion detection; Physicians