Investigating the Patient-Physician Relationship in Specialized Outpatient Clinics of Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences

Background: Good patient-physician relationship is a factor that can enhance the efficiency of medical services. This study aimed to investigate the patient-physician relationship in specialized outpatient clinics affiliated with Ahvaz University of Medical Sciences. Methods: This descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study was performed on 275 patients who visited specialized outpatient clinics of Ahvaz University of Medical Sciences in 2019. The data in this study were collected using the Patient-Doctor Relationship Questionnaire (PDRQ-9). Data were analyzed using SPSS22 software with the Pearson correlation coefficient and independent samples t-test. Results: The patients’ satisfaction with their relationship with the physician was reported to be moderate (33.92±6.80 out of 45). The highest score (4.13±0.83 out of 5) was related to the item “I trust my doctor” and the lowest score (2.84±1.16 out of 5) was related to the item “I find my doctor easily accessible”. There was a significant and negative relation between the patients’ satisfaction with the relationship with the physician and wait time and a significant and positive relation with the duration of the visit. The mean visit and the mean wait time were 13.7±11.1 and 90±57.8 minutes, respectively. Besides, the patients’ satisfaction with communication with physicians had a significant relation with the type of clinic (P = 0.032). Conclusion: To improve the patient-physician relationship, it is essential to take some management measures to reduce patients’ wait time, comply with standard visit time, improve environmental conditions, and empower physicians to enhance communication skills.