Percepções da comunicação nas relações entre médicos e pacientes

Abstract

This study is a result of two simultaneous descriptive quantitative cross-sectional surveys conducted in the capital city of Sergipe, aiming to evaluate physicians’ and patients’ views of the interactions between them in health services. 100 physicians and 200 patients were interviewed, respectively. In the physicians' perception, 99% of the patients were satisfied with the assistance received; however, 12.9% of the patients declared to be dissatisfied with the physician who assisted them. The patients identified physicians’ attitudes that compromised the therapeutic relationship, especially communication difficulties. The quality of assistance was significantly different, in the patients' view, depending on the type of service, whether public or private. Our findings suggest that it is imperative for physicians to reconsider their attitude, improving their communication skills and considering patients’ subjectivities.