Douglas P. Olson
Communication Discrepancies Between Physicians and Hospitalized Patients
Yale University|Waterbury Hospital
hospital surveys indicate lack patient awareness diagnoses treatments yet physicians report effectively communicate patients gaps understanding communication could result decreased quality care sought assess patient knowledge perspectives inpatient care determine differences physician assessmentstwo validated questionnaires assessed experiences inpatients treated house staff october 10 2008 june 23 2009 surveyed corresponding internal medicine resident attending physicians asking report care hospitalized patients understanding patients perspectives care receivedeightynine patients 43 physicians participated although 73 patients thought 1 main physician 18 correctly named physician compared 67 physicians thought patients knew names p001 physicians 77 believed patients knew diagnosis however 57 patients p001 total 58 patients thought physicians always explained things comprehensible way compared 21 physicians stated always provided explanations kind p001 twothirds patients reported receiving new medication hospital yet 90 noted never told adverse effects medications nearly physicians 98 stated least sometimes discussed patients fears anxieties compared 54 patients said physicians never p001significant differences exist patients physicians impressions patient knowledge inpatient care received steps improve patientphysician communication identified implemented