Paternalism limits communication between health professionals and patients and does not promote shared therapeutic decision-making. The aim of this study was to contribute to the knowledge of communication patterns used in clinical practice in Mexico and to identify factors that favour a doctor-patient relationship characterised by low paternalism. A high prevalence of paternalism was observed among mental health professionals, while a pattern of highly overt communication was strongly associated with low rates of this trait. Empowering health professionals and promoting overt communication may contribute to a shift towards more autonomous communication in clinical practice.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdfdirect/10.1111/medu.13375