The physician-patient relationship is the foundation of clinical care. Physician-patient relationships can have profound positive and negative implications on clinical care. Ultimately, the overarching goal of the physician-patient relationship is to improve patient health outcomes and their medical care. Stronger physician-patient relationships are correlated with improved patient outcomes. As the relationship between physicians and patients becomes more important, it is essential to understand the factors that influence this relationship.
Frameworks for Physician-Patient Relationships
Throughout history, there has been much debate regarding the “ideal” physician-patient relationship. In 1992, Ezekiel and Linda Emanuel proposed four models for the physician-patient relationship: the paternalistic model, the interpretive model, the deliberative model, and the informative model. (Fig. 1) These models differ based on their understanding of four key principles: the goals of physician-patient interactions, the physician’s obligations, the role of patient values, and the concept of patient autonomy.
Fig. 1 Models of the Physician-Patient Relationship
Factors that Influence the Physician-Patient Relationship
Although there are several factors that influence physician-patient relationships, the dynamic shared and sense of trust between physicians and patients are two critical components to their overall relationship.
Dynamic Between Physicians and Patients
The dynamic between physicians and patients refers to the communication patterns and the extent to which decision-making is shared between both parties. Effective physician-patient communication is an integral part of clinical practice and serves as the keystone of physician-patient relationships. Studies have shown the approach taken by physicians to communicate information is equally important as the actual information that is being communicated. This type of communication incorporates both verbal and nonverbal interactions between physicians and patients. effective communication has been shown to influence a wide array of outcomes: including emotional health, symptoms resolution, function, pain control, and physiologic measures such as blood pressure levels.iiWhen miscommunication occurs, it can have severe negative implications in clinical care such as impeding patient understanding, expectations of treatment, treatment planning, decreasing patient satisfaction of medical care, and reducing levels of patient hopefulness. iii
In addition to having effective communication, it is important that medical decisions stem from a collaborative process between physicians and patients. Decision-making is a process in which patients should be involved from the very beginning, and the result is a decision that reflects the physician’s medical knowledge as well as the patient’s values and beliefs. collaborative communication and decision-making have been correlated with greater patient satisfaction and loyalty. Working from a collaborative framework along with effective physician-patient communication can also strengthen a physician’s ability to utilize a personalized health care model through patient empowerment.v
Trust Between Physician and Patients
“….‘patients must be able to trust doctors with their lives and health,’ and that maintaining trust is one core guidance for physicians…”
Birkhäuer et al, 2017
Trust is a fundamental characteristic of the physician-patient relationship. Patients must trust that their physicians will work in their best interests to achieve optimal health outcomes. Patients’ trust in their physicians has been demonstrated to be more important than treatment satisfaction in predictions of patient adherence to recommendations and their overall satisfaction with care. studies have also shown that trust is additionally a strong predictor of a patient continuing with their provider.iiTrust extends to many different aspects of the physician-relationships including, but not limited to: physicians’ willingness to listen to patients, patients’ believing that physicians value patient autonomy and ability to make informed decisions, and patients feeling comfortable enough to express and engage in dialogue related to their health concerns.
Physician-Patient Relationships Influence on the Future of Healthcare
The idea of viewing physician-patient relationships as a core element of quality health care is not something new, however, understanding and assessing the factors that influence this relationship is just beginning. Effective physician-patient communication has been shown to positively influence health outcomes by increasing patient satisfaction, leading to greater patient understanding of health problems and treatments available, contributing to better adherence to treatment plans, and providing support and reassurance to patients. Collaborative decision-making enables physicians and patients to work as partners in order to achieve a mutual health goal. Trust within all areas of the physician-patient relationship is a critical factor that influences communication between both parties. As health care transforms into a more personalized and patient-centered model, the physician-patient relationship will significantly shape health outcomes. The personalized health care model encourages collaboration among physicians and patients in order to create shared health goals and the cultivation of a health plan to address identified problems. By understanding the factors that influence patient-physician relationships, in the future, health care providers will be able to address some of the barriers that prevent the adoption of more personalized approaches to health care.