Abstract
The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of the prescription on the doctor-patient interaction. Data were collected during ongoing quality assessment studies at a prepaid group practice of about 19,000 enrollees. Adult patients and their providers completed forms on all visits to the Department of Medicine and Urgent Care Center during a two-week period. A 50 percent random sample of patients was interviewed by telephone one week after the index visit. Patients who did not receive prescriptions reported more satisfaction with the communicative aspects of their visits to physicians than patients who did receive prescriptions. We suggest that prescriptions may hinder patient satisfaction with the doctor-patient interaction by substituting for other, more "meaningful" communication between patient and provider.
Full text
PDF
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Bertakis K. D. The communication of information from physician to patient: a method for increasing patient retention and satisfaction. J Fam Pract. 1977 Aug;5(2):217–222. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Parish P. A. Sociology of prescribing. Br Med Bull. 1974 Sep;30(3):214–217. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.bmb.a071203. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Stimson G. V. Doctor-patient interaction and some problems for prescribing. J R Coll Gen Pract. 1976;26 (Suppl 1):88–96. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Ware J. E., Jr, Davies-Avery A., Stewart A. L. The measurement and meaning of patient satisfaction. Health Med Care Serv Rev. 1978 Jan-Feb;1(1):1, 3-15. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- West S. K., Brandon B. M., Stevens A. M., Zauber A., Chase G., Stolley P. D., Rumrill R. E. Drug utilization review in an HMO. I. Introduction and examples of methodology. Med Care. 1977 Jun;15(6):505–514. doi: 10.1097/00005650-197706000-00007. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Woolley F. R., Kane R. L., Hughes C. C., Wright D. D. The effects of doctor--patient communication on satisfaction and outcome of care. Soc Sci Med. 1978 Mar;12(2A):123–128. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]