Surveys: Patient dissatisfaction is global
Two-thirds of patients around the world are unhappy with their physicians, according to two recent global studies released by data analytics software developer SSI and market research firm The Research Intelligence Group (TRiG).
Unclear communication is a prime reason for patients' dissatisfaction, according to SSI, based in Shelton, Conn. Roughly 25 percent of patients globally complain that physicians don't answer questions, don't involve them in treatment decisions and use medical terms with no explanation. "[Forty-four percent of this trend] appears to be a direct outcome of doctors not spending enough time with patients. About a third of patients also believe doctors show disrespect by not being punctual for appointments,” SSI stated.
Fort Washington, Pa.-based TRiG conducted an online study of just under 22,600 adults in 23 countries. SSI carried out a separate online study of 5,000 adults in the U.S., U.K., Germany, France, Japan, Australia, China, Singapore and Sweden.
“Patients in China (55 percent) and Germany (51 percent) are particularly displeased with the limited time they get from their doctors, the report noted,” SSI stated. “Chinese patients are also far more likely than respondents in other countries to say their doctors don't explain medical terminology."
In contrast, patients in Australia (55 percent), France (48 percent) and the U.S. (46 percent) are more concerned about physicians' lack of punctuality, the companies reported.
Worldwide, patients' unwillingness to recommend their doctors is primarily due to long wait times (26 percent), according to the survey results. The exception is China, where the top reason patients would not recommend their doctors is "lack of medical expertise" (44 percent).
The SSI and TRiG studies argued that only a quarter of patients are happy with their involvement in treatment decisions. Forty-six percent of respondents said that they would be more satisfied if physicians would explain the treatment process and possible side effects in more detail. Seventy-two percent of Chinese respondents are looking for more detailed explanations.
Around the world, "listening to patient concerns" was the second most selected option (37 percent) when patients were asked to name the action that would increase their satisfaction with the treatment decision process, the report concluded. “Again, this was a particularly glaring issue among Chinese respondents (64 percent). Other key improvements patients would like to see include physicians spending more time discussing options (32 percent globally) and greater availability of literature about specific medical conditions (23 percent globally).”
Unclear communication is a prime reason for patients' dissatisfaction, according to SSI, based in Shelton, Conn. Roughly 25 percent of patients globally complain that physicians don't answer questions, don't involve them in treatment decisions and use medical terms with no explanation. "[Forty-four percent of this trend] appears to be a direct outcome of doctors not spending enough time with patients. About a third of patients also believe doctors show disrespect by not being punctual for appointments,” SSI stated.
Fort Washington, Pa.-based TRiG conducted an online study of just under 22,600 adults in 23 countries. SSI carried out a separate online study of 5,000 adults in the U.S., U.K., Germany, France, Japan, Australia, China, Singapore and Sweden.
“Patients in China (55 percent) and Germany (51 percent) are particularly displeased with the limited time they get from their doctors, the report noted,” SSI stated. “Chinese patients are also far more likely than respondents in other countries to say their doctors don't explain medical terminology."
In contrast, patients in Australia (55 percent), France (48 percent) and the U.S. (46 percent) are more concerned about physicians' lack of punctuality, the companies reported.
Worldwide, patients' unwillingness to recommend their doctors is primarily due to long wait times (26 percent), according to the survey results. The exception is China, where the top reason patients would not recommend their doctors is "lack of medical expertise" (44 percent).
The SSI and TRiG studies argued that only a quarter of patients are happy with their involvement in treatment decisions. Forty-six percent of respondents said that they would be more satisfied if physicians would explain the treatment process and possible side effects in more detail. Seventy-two percent of Chinese respondents are looking for more detailed explanations.
Around the world, "listening to patient concerns" was the second most selected option (37 percent) when patients were asked to name the action that would increase their satisfaction with the treatment decision process, the report concluded. “Again, this was a particularly glaring issue among Chinese respondents (64 percent). Other key improvements patients would like to see include physicians spending more time discussing options (32 percent globally) and greater availability of literature about specific medical conditions (23 percent globally).”