| Background & objectives: Improper communication is the most common reason for patients
to complain to doctors. Despite numerous interventions to teach communication skills to
physicians, the effect of these interventions on patient satisfaction has not been studied or the
increase in patient satisfaction has been slight. Given that conducting interventions based on
theories and models of behavior change leads to increased effectiveness of educational
interventions, in this paper the role of an educational intervention based on PRECEDE
PROCEED model on increasing patients' satisfaction with each of the communication skills
of medical interns is reported.
Methods: This study was conducted as a part of a larger quasi-experimental research at
internal medicine ward of Shariati Hospital affiliated to Tehran University of Medical
Sciences. Applying a valid and reliable questionnaire, satisfaction rate of 242, 231, 223, and
254 patients with communication skills of 70 interns, was assessed and analyzed before,
immediately, two weeks and four weeks after the intervention. Data were analyzed and the
strongest and weakest communication skills of the interns were determined.
Results: In each of the four periods of assessment in this study, the patients' satisfaction with
interns' communication skills ranged from 31 to 50 (from a whole of 70). Patients had the
highest degree of satisfaction with warm, friendly, and respectful behavior of interns. Patients'
least satisfaction was related to interns' skills in considering their opinions in the decision
making process to diagnose and treat their medical problems.
Conclusion: In this study, patients' satisfaction with interns' communication skills was
medium to high. It is recommended that in order to improve interns' communication skills and
to increase patients' satisfaction, interns should be provided with constructive feedback, based
on the results of the satisfaction surveys. |