Patient opinion of the doctor-patient relationship in a public hospital in Qatar

Authors

• Alan S. Weber, Pre-Medical Department, Weill Cornell Medical College, Education City, PO Box 24144, Doha, State of Qatar. Tel. +974 55233153. Fax. +974 (4) 4928444. E-mail: alw2010{at}qatar-med.cornell.edu
• Mohamud A. Verjee, Pre-Medical Department, Weill Cornell Medical College, Education City, PO Box 24144, Doha, State of Qatar. Tel. +974 55233153. Fax. +974 (4) 4928444. E-mail: alw2010{at}qatar-med.cornell.edu
• David Musson, Pre-Medical Department, Weill Cornell Medical College, Education City, PO Box 24144, Doha, State of Qatar. Tel. +974 55233153. Fax. +974 (4) 4928444. E-mail: alw2010{at}qatar-med.cornell.edu
• Navid A. Iqbal, Pre-Medical Department, Weill Cornell Medical College, Education City, PO Box 24144, Doha, State of Qatar. Tel. +974 55233153. Fax. +974 (4) 4928444. E-mail: alw2010{at}qatar-med.cornell.edu
• Tayseer M. Mosleh, Pre-Medical Department, Weill Cornell Medical College, Education City, PO Box 24144, Doha, State of Qatar. Tel. +974 55233153. Fax. +974 (4) 4928444. E-mail: alw2010{at}qatar-med.cornell.edu
• Abdulwahed A. Zainel, Pre-Medical Department, Weill Cornell Medical College, Education City, PO Box 24144, Doha, State of Qatar. Tel. +974 55233153. Fax. +974 (4) 4928444. E-mail: alw2010{at}qatar-med.cornell.edu
• Yassir Al-Salamy, Pre-Medical Department, Weill Cornell Medical College, Education City, PO Box 24144, Doha, State of Qatar. Tel. +974 55233153. Fax. +974 (4) 4928444. E-mail: alw2010{at}qatar-med.cornell.edu

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the factors associated with the level of satisfaction of outpatients in their relationship with their doctor at the largest public hospital in Qatar. METHODS: This study was a cross-sectional survey of attitudes. Researchers surveyed 626 outpatients at Hamad General Hospital in Doha, Qatar from September 2009 to January 2010 using a novel questionnaire assessing satisfaction with patients9 interaction(s) with their doctor (spent time with patient, took case seriously, maintained confidentiality, and the overall quality of visit). RESULTS: Mean responses on 4 Likert scale items (one to 5) were as follows: "spent enough time with patient" = 4.39; "doctor took case seriously" = 4.57; "satisfaction with doctor-patient confidentiality" = 4.71; "overall quality of visit" = 4.46. Age, gender, citizenship, level of education, and number of visits did not significantly impact the level of satisfaction. For 73.1% of patients, the physician9s qualification was the most important factor in choosing a doctor. Of those surveyed, 40.7% of men and 28.1% of women preferred to see a doctor of their own gender. A positive correlation between perceived communication and satisfaction with the doctor-patient encounter was established. CONCLUSION: This study found that patients in the Out-Patient Department at Hamad Hospital were highly satisfied with their relationships with their doctors, and physician qualification was the most significant factor in choosing a doctor. A significant number of males and females preferred a physician of their own gender. Communication difficulty correlated with lower satisfaction.

Article Type

Research Article

First Page

293

Last Page

299

Recommended Citation

Weber, Alan S.; Verjee, Mohamud A.; Musson, David; Iqbal, Navid A.; Mosleh, Tayseer M.; Zainel, Abdulwahed A.; and Al-Salamy, Yassir (2011) "Patient opinion of the doctor-patient relationship in a public hospital in Qatar," Saudi Medical Journal: Vol. 32: Iss. 3, Article 12.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15537/1658-3175.5257