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Dr. Yaacov Bachner, Department of Sociology of Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
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Abstract |
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Studies reveal that patient – physician communication effects patient's health condition and their utilization of health services. Lately, a correlation was found between different physicians' communication styles and patients' compliance, trust in the physician, and satisfaction of the service. A correlation was also documented in relation to the type/severity of the illness and patients' desire for specific communication style. These studies emphasize the importance of the communication style of the physician to the perception of the quality of therapy and service, by patients in different health conditions.
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Study objectives |
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1. To identify the communication style preferred by elderly cancer patients
2. To examine the association between primary physicians' communication styles and satisfaction from the physician and the service, self-rated health and utilization of health services among these patients. The examined health utilization variables are: number of primary physicians and specialists office visits, number of hospital admissions and medical tests 6 months preceding the interview.
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Working hypothesis |
A correlation is expected between physicians' communication styles and
1. level of patients' satisfaction from the physicians and the service
2. patients' self-rated health,
3. number of visits at the primary physicians and specialists office, hospitalizations and medical tests.
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Methodology |
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260 elderly cancer patients of "Maccabi Health Services" will be randomly sampled. A valid and reliable tools will be used for examining the study variables. These tools will be adapted to the specific characteristics of the study population. The variables of the utilization of health services as well as the severity of the illness will be derived from the databases of "Maccabi Health Services".
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Significance of the study |
| Improving the quality of care provided to elderly cancer patients constitute a challenge to the health system. Identification and understanding the association between physicians' communication styles and patients' satisfaction, self-rated health and utilization of health services among elderly cancer patients will assist to improve the therapy and services given to this needed population. This improvement will contribute to elevate patients' satisfaction leading to better physical and emotional health, reduction of health services utilization and eventually optimal usage of the organization resources. |