Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

A Mixed-Method Examination Of Patient Perceptions Of Ideal Physician Behavior And Overall Quality Of Care, Megan Rouse

Honors Program Theses

The present study examined three dimensions of physician characteristics and behaviors (knowledge, communication, and compassion) to better understand how patients perceive physicians and overall quality of care. This mixed-methods approach utilized both close- and open-ended survey questions to assess participants’ relationship with their physicians. In addition, participants wrote stories to describe best and worst experiences with physicians. Giving participants the opportunity to write stories in their own words allowed for a more nuanced understanding of the complexity of patients’ experiences, physician characteristics, and perceptions of overall quality of care. Results indicated that patients perceive physicians who are good communicators as …