title: [The Quality of the Family Physician-Patient Relationship. Patient-Related Predictors in a Sample Representative for the German Population].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Patient-centeredness and a strong working alliance are core elements of family medicine. Surveys in Germany showed that most people are satisfied with the quality of the family physician-patient relationship. However, factors that are responsible for the quality of the family physician-patient relationship remain unclear. This study aimed at identifying patient-related predictors of the quality of this relationship.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants of a cross-sectional survey representative for the general German population were assessed using standardized questionnaires. The perceived quality of the family physician-patient relationship was measured with the German version of the Patient-Doctor Relationship Questionnaire (PDRQ-9). Associations of demographic and clinical variables (comorbidity, somatic symptom burden, psychological distress) with the quality of the family physician-patient relationship were assessed by applying hierarchical linear regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  2278 participants (91,9%) reported having a family physician. The mean total score of the PDRQ-9 was high (M=4,12, SD=0,70). The final regression model showed that higher age, being female, and most notably less somatic and less depressive symptoms predicted a higher quality of the family physician-patient relationship. Comorbidity lost significance when somatic symptom burden was added to the regression model. The final model explained 11% of the variance, indicating a small effect.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Experiencing somatic and depressive symptoms emerged as most relevant patient-related predictors of the quality of the family physician-patient relationship.
authors.affiliation: Klinik und Poliklinik für Psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dinkel
authors.affiliation: Institut für Allgemeinmedizin, Technische Universität München.
authors.forename: Antonius
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Medizinische Psychologie und Medizinische Soziologie, Universität Leipzig.
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schmutzer
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Medizinische Psychologie und Medizinische Soziologie, Universität Leipzig.
authors.forename: Elmar
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Brähler
authors.affiliation: Klinik und Poliklinik für Psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Henningsen
authors.affiliation: Klinik und Poliklinik für Psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München.
authors.forename: Winfried
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Häuser
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D010821:Physicians, Family; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires