Re: It's the little things: Most patients want to shake hands with their physicians
- From: William Wagner <not-to-here-williamwag@xxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 24 Jun 2007 11:35:52 -0400
In article <1182693366.015960.30870@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
MarilynMann <mannm@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Most patients want physicians to shake their hands when they first
meet, and about half want their first names used in greetings,
according to a report in the June 11 issue of Archives of Internal
Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.
"The first few moments of a medical encounter are critical to
establishing rapport, making the patient feel comfortable and setting
the tone of the interview," the authors write as background
information in the article.
Gregory Makoul, Ph.D., and colleagues at Northwestern University
Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, surveyed 415 adults in the
United States between 2004 and 2005 regarding patient expectations and
preferences for greetings by physicians. The authors also analyzed
videotapes of 123 new patient visits in the offices of 19 different
physicians in Chicago and Burlington, Vt.
The survey found that, among patients:
* 78.1 percent wanted physicians to shake their hands, while 18.1
percent did not
* 50.4 percent wanted their first names used during greetings, 17.3
percent preferred their last name and 23.6 percent favored the
physician using both first and last names
* 56.4 percent wanted physicians to introduce themselves using first
and last names, 32.5 percent expected physicians to use their last
name, and 7.2 percent would like physicians to use their first name
only
In the videotaped encounters, physicians and patients shook hands 82.9
percent of the time. In 62 (50.4 percent) of the visits, physicians
did not mention patients' names at all, and in 48 (39 percent) of the
cases patients' names were not mentioned by physicians or patients.
Physicians used their first and last names when introducing themselves
58.5 percent of the time, and did not introduce themselves at all in
14 visits (11.4 percent).
"Physicians should be encouraged to shake hands with patients but
remain sensitive to nonverbal cues that might indicate whether
patients are open to this behavior," the authors conclude. "Given the
diversity of opinion regarding the use of names, coupled with national
patient safety recommendations concerning patient identification, we
suggest that physicians initially use patients' first and last names
and introduce themselves using their own first and last names."
* * *
These results do not entirely correspond with my personal experience.
In my experience, most physicians refer to themselves as "Dr. [last
name]." They mostly refer to their patients as "Mr./Ms. [last name],"
although some call me by my first name after they have known me for a
while. This tends to make me wonder why they don't say "call me
[first name]" at the point they start calling me by my first name. I
mean, it just seems a bit unequal. I suppose the reason is to
maintain the so-called "boundary" between doctor and patient. To the
people who would prefer their physicians to introduce themselves using
their first names only, good luck with that!
Marilyn
I bring a few small gifts and inquire about her family. Seems I want
the doctoring of my youth. Gifts are simple usually some new found
music. I really want a healer not a doctor. This Is primary the main
reason I try to heal myself.
However a small wart showed up about three weeks ago and last week a
few black spots showed up. I've had melanoma so It scares me as it is 2
inches from my eye. I thought of cutting it out myself. But will see
my Doc and get a referral to my dermatologist . Whose advice I will
adhere to for awhile when I will then say no more X-rays.
Noncompliant Bill
--
S Jersey USA Zone 5 Shade
http://www.ocutech.com/ High tech Vison aid
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Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, and is strictly for the educational
and informative purposes. This material is distributed without profit.
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