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Doctors’ communication skills and the time they spend with patients


Authors: I. Gulášová 1;  V. Harmanová 2
Authors‘ workplace: Katedra ošetrovateľstva, Fakulta zdravotníctva a sociálnej práce Trnavskej univerzity v Trnave, SR Dekan: prof. MUDr. Jaroslav Slaný, CSc. 1;  Ambulantná služba intenzívnej starostlivosti, NOVAG-Care GmbH Ambulanter Intensiv-Pflegedienst, Stuttgart – Weilimdorf, Německo Vedúci: Andrey Gubenskiy 2
Published in: Prakt. Lék. 2025; 106(5-6): 195-202
Category: Of different specialties

Overview

Background: The evaluation of doctors’ communication skills and the time they devote to patients in relation to patient satisfaction is one of the important indicators of quality and safe health care. Objective: To compare how the level of communication skills of a doctor is evaluated by lay patients and patients by healthcare professionals and the time that doctors devote to them in communicating with them. Sample and methods: The research group consisted of 240 respondents/patients, of which 120 were non-standard patients and 120 were patients/healthcare professionals. 183 women (76.3%), 57 men (23.7%). The most common representation by age in both groups was the same from 31 to 40 years. The obtained data were subjected to decryptive and bivariate analysis. Results: During the interview, the doctor shows more interest in lay patients than in patients-healthcare professionals. During the examination of the patient, the doctor devotes more time to the patient-layman than to the patient-healthcare professional. There is a statistical correlation between the time that a doctor devotes to a non-specialist patient and a patient-healthcare professional. Conclusion: Patients know how they felt after talking to a doctor and this is a crucial factor for them in evaluating satisfaction or dissatisfaction with the quality of health care provided. The acquired knowledge can be used for communication training in the further education of doctors and healthcare professionals.

Keywords:

patient – quality of health care – doctor – satisfaction – communication skills


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