Patient and Physician Attitudes in the Health Care Context: Attitudinal Symmetry Predicts Patient Satisfaction and Adherence
Jamie A. Cvengros, Alan J. Christensen, Stephen L. Hillis, Gary E. Rosenthal. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, Vol. 33, No. 3: pages 262-268. 2007


Source #2: Patient-centered Approach Can Backfire ScienceDaily. Aug 14, 2007

The Study

Excerpted from the abstract

The application of statistical models demonstrated that patients were more likely to be satisfied with care and follow medical instructions if they were treated by a doctor whose attitudes toward patient-physician roles paralleled their own.

Commentary

Perhaps the most significant implication of these findings is the unsurprising conclusion that no single approach to the roles of the patient and the physician in the healthcare dyad works best for every patient. While the consensus for the past several years has been that treatment should be patient-centered, this study suggests that some patients prefer a doctor with a more traditional style, even if that crosses the line into “paternalistic” and may be more likely to follow the treatment plan if seen by such a physician.

It should be noted that a limitation of the study is that it relied on the patients’ self-report to rate compliance. A similar study with alternative means of measuring adherence (e.g., prescription refill records) is underway.

• A Cognitive Therapy Approach To Weight Loss - And Patient Compliance
• Enhancing Patient Compliance - A Value-Based Approach To Managing Employee Health
• Prescription Information Not Given In Patient's Language
• Treatment Adherence Not Affected By Patient Preferences
• Noncompliance and A Decision Not To Follow A Treatment Recommendation Are Not Identical