Perception of doctor-patient relationship among undergraduate medical students in a medical college of West Bengal

Abstract

Background: Doctor-patient relationship is the central pillar of medical care, which affects patients’ psychological, social and biological outcomes. Medical undergraduate students need to develop one to one relationship with patients. The objective of the present study was to assess the sharing and caring dimensions of the doctor-patient relationship using the Patient-Practitioner Orientation Scale (PPOS) and to analyze any difference across the demographic characteristics, of the undergraduate's medical students. Materials & Methodology: We did an observational descriptive cross-sectional study in a tertiary medical college of West Bengal.  We used one to one interview technique as a study technique using an interview schedule consisting of sociodemographic characteristics, patient-practitioner orientation scale (PPOS). Results: Male participants constituted 59%, that is 133, whereas females were 93 (41%).  Mean PPOS score was 3+0.62, Mean sharing score was 3+0.63, mean caring score was 3+0.61. Results showed significant difference across gender where female scored higher in mean sharing (2.99+0.61 vs 3.35+0.63), caring (2.82+0.58 vs 3.02+.70) & total PPOS score compared to males (2.90+0.58 vs 3.1+0.67) (p=0.00). Students from the urban locality had a significantly higher score in sharing (3.16+0.64 vs 2.92+0.49), and the total score (3.04+0.66 vs2.87+0.51) compared to rural students. Conclusions: This study gave the idea about the perception of the doctor-patient relationship among medical students of a Medical college of West Bengal. Keeping in mind this baseline score, we suggested strategies to improve doctor-patient relationships. Various teaching leaning tools could be incorporated, and contextualised case-scenarios and role plays could be framed so that proper relationship could be built.