METHODS: Study 1: An Australian sample of participants with a diagnosed chronic physical health condition and a self-reported good physician-patient relationship completed a three round Delphi poll to determine items of the chronic condition physician-patient relationship scale (CC-PPR). Fifty-two participants completed round one, 33 completed round two, and 24 completed all three rounds. Study 2: Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis were conducted on a separate sample (N = 226) to explore the factor structure of the CC-PPR.
RESULTS: The CC-PPR comprised 22 items within a single-factor structure which demonstrated high internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.97) and sound convergent validity.
DISCUSSION: The CC-PPR reliably measures observable, concrete, and specific physician behaviours that patients with chronic physical health conditions believe are critical in forming a good physician-patient relationship. The CC-PPR has potential application in research, educational, and self-assessment contexts, including for the evaluation and development of competence in post-graduate and professional settings.
METHODS: Participants (N = 2071) from Hong Kong, the Philippines, Australia, and the U.S.A. completed an online survey assessing their preferences for exchange of information, autonomy in decision-making, expression and validation of their emotions, focus on them as an individual, and the doctor-patient relationship.
RESULTS: Participants from all four countries had similar preferences for empathy and shared decision-making. For other facets of PCC, participants in the Philippines and Australia expressed somewhat similar preferences, as did those in the U.S.A. and Hong Kong, challenging East-West stereotypes. Participants in the Philippines placed greater value on relationships, whereas Australians valued more autonomy. Participants in Hong Kong more commonly preferred doctor-directed care, with less importance placed on the relationship. Responses from U.S.A. participants were surprising, as they ranked the need for individualized care and two-way flow of information as least important.
CONCLUSIONS: Empathy, information exchange, and shared decision-making are values shared across countries, while preferences for how the information is shared, and the importance of the doctor-patient relationship differ.