Doctors' trustworthiness, practice orientation, performance and patient satisfaction.
PURPOSE
The purpose of this paper is to provide a greater understanding of the general practitioner (GP)-patient relationship for academics and practitioners. A new model for dyadic professional relationships specifically designed for research into the doctor-patient relationship was developed and tested. Various conceptual models of trust and related constructs in the literature were considered and assessed for their relevance as were various related scales.


DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH
The model was designed and tested using purposefully designed scales measuring doctors' trustworthiness, practice orientation performance and patient satisfaction. A quantitative survey used closed-ended questions and 372 patients responded from seven GP practices. The sample closely reflected the profile of the patients who responded to the DoH/NHS GP Patient Survey for England, 2010.


FINDINGS
Hierarchical regression and partial least squares both accounted for 74 per cent of the variance in "overall patient satisfaction", the dependent variable. Trust accounted for 39 per cent of the variance explained, with the other independent variables accounting for the other 35 per cent. ANOVA showed good model fit.


PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS
The findings on the factors which affect patient satisfaction and the doctor-patient relationship have direct implications for GPs and other health professionals. They are of particular relevance at a time of health reform and change.


ORIGINALITY/VALUE
The paper provides: a new model of the doctor-patient relationship and specifically designed scales to test it; a greater understanding of the effects of doctors' trustworthiness, practice orientation and performance on patient satisfaction; and a new framework for examining the breadth and meaning of the doctor-patient relationship and the management of care from the patient's viewpoint.
['Van Den Assem|Barend|B|', 'Dulewicz|Victor|V|']
D000328:Adult D000367:Age Factors D000368:Aged D002983:Clinical Competence D003142:Communication D003266:Continuity of Patient Care D005260:Female D058005:General Practitioners D006801:Humans D008297:Male D008875:Middle Aged D017060:Patient Satisfaction D010817:Physician-Patient Relations D012737:Sex Factors D012959:Socioeconomic Factors D035502:Trust D006113:United Kingdom
Patient satisfaction Trust Continuity of care Outcomes Patient expectation Patient perception