Medical teachers stress the importance of teaching patient-centred care. A total of 673 first-, third- and fourth-year medical students were surveyed. The survey used the Patient-Practitioner Orientation Scale (PPOS), a validated instrument designed to measure individual preferences for different aspects of the doctor-patient relationship. Total PPOS scores can range from patient-centred (egalitarian, whole-person oriented) to illness or doctor-centred (paternalistic, less concerned with psychosocial problems). Female gender and earlier year of medical school were significantly associated with patient-centred attitudes. Among fourth-year students, characteristics associated with more patient-centred attitudes included female gender, European ethnicity and choice of GP profession. Despite the emphasis on the need for curricula that foster patient-centred attitudes among medical students, the data suggest that students in the later years of medical school have more paternalistic attitudes compared to students in earlier years. Given the emphasis on patient satisfaction and patient-centred care in the current medical environment, the results warrant further research and dialogue to explore the dynamics of medical education that may foster or inhibit students' attitudes towards patient-centred care.
Medical student attitudes towards the doctor-patient relationship
19 December 2022