Doctor‐patient relationship: Evidence from Bangladesh

Abstract Background and Aims This study analyses the nature and magnitude of the doctor‐patient relationship in Bangladesh, intending to trigger policy discussions for improving healthcare quality. The dearth of research on the nature and degree of this relationship in Bangladesh as well as the glob...

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Main Authors: Syed Abdul Hamid, Afroza Begum, Md. Ragaul Azim, Md. Sirajul Islam
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2021-12-01
Series:Health Science Reports
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.394
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author Syed Abdul Hamid
Afroza Begum
Md. Ragaul Azim
Md. Sirajul Islam
author_facet Syed Abdul Hamid
Afroza Begum
Md. Ragaul Azim
Md. Sirajul Islam
author_sort Syed Abdul Hamid
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background and Aims This study analyses the nature and magnitude of the doctor‐patient relationship in Bangladesh, intending to trigger policy discussions for improving healthcare quality. The dearth of research on the nature and degree of this relationship in Bangladesh as well as the global context motivates us to conduct this study. Method We use primary data from three different surveys conducted during July to October 2018. The study conducts a public perception survey on 701 individuals at various public places in Dhaka City. In addition, we interview 100 exit‐patients from two major public hospitals, four for‐profit‐private hospitals, and one not‐for‐profit private hospital in Dhaka City. We also interview a total of 62 doctors of different ladders. Each survey uses a structured questionnaire with a set of questions customized in the Bangladesh context. Results The score of the doctor‐patient relationship is found quite low from the viewpoint of the public, the patients, and the doctors. However, the score is comparatively high from the doctor's point of view. The results show that lack of optimum time allocation for the patients, not explaining the prescription clearly, and discriminating the patients by their social status are the main factors for a poor relationship with doctors. Conclusions The doctor‐patient relationship is substantially poor from the public, patients, and the doctors' viewpoints. Orienting the doctors to non‐therapeutic care (ie, respectful behavior, privacy, dignity, prompt attention, clear communication) in all levels of medical education and training, and improving working conditions of the hospitals are the crucial policy implications.
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spelling doaj.art-0ba9106e6d4d48619c13e3b20f81cac22022-12-22T02:50:56ZengWileyHealth Science Reports2398-88352021-12-0144n/an/a10.1002/hsr2.394Doctor‐patient relationship: Evidence from BangladeshSyed Abdul Hamid0Afroza Begum1Md. Ragaul Azim2Md. Sirajul Islam3Research Division Institute of Health Economics, University of Dhaka Dhaka BangladeshDepartment of Statistics University of Chittagong Chittagong BangladeshResearch Division Institute of Health Economics, University of Dhaka Dhaka BangladeshResearch Division Universal Research Care Ltd Dhaka BangladeshAbstract Background and Aims This study analyses the nature and magnitude of the doctor‐patient relationship in Bangladesh, intending to trigger policy discussions for improving healthcare quality. The dearth of research on the nature and degree of this relationship in Bangladesh as well as the global context motivates us to conduct this study. Method We use primary data from three different surveys conducted during July to October 2018. The study conducts a public perception survey on 701 individuals at various public places in Dhaka City. In addition, we interview 100 exit‐patients from two major public hospitals, four for‐profit‐private hospitals, and one not‐for‐profit private hospital in Dhaka City. We also interview a total of 62 doctors of different ladders. Each survey uses a structured questionnaire with a set of questions customized in the Bangladesh context. Results The score of the doctor‐patient relationship is found quite low from the viewpoint of the public, the patients, and the doctors. However, the score is comparatively high from the doctor's point of view. The results show that lack of optimum time allocation for the patients, not explaining the prescription clearly, and discriminating the patients by their social status are the main factors for a poor relationship with doctors. Conclusions The doctor‐patient relationship is substantially poor from the public, patients, and the doctors' viewpoints. Orienting the doctors to non‐therapeutic care (ie, respectful behavior, privacy, dignity, prompt attention, clear communication) in all levels of medical education and training, and improving working conditions of the hospitals are the crucial policy implications.https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.394Bangladeshdoctor's perceptiondoctor‐patient relationshippatient perceptionpublic perceptiontrust
spellingShingle Syed Abdul Hamid
Afroza Begum
Md. Ragaul Azim
Md. Sirajul Islam
Doctor‐patient relationship: Evidence from Bangladesh
Health Science Reports
Bangladesh
doctor's perception
doctor‐patient relationship
patient perception
public perception
trust
title Doctor‐patient relationship: Evidence from Bangladesh
title_full Doctor‐patient relationship: Evidence from Bangladesh
title_fullStr Doctor‐patient relationship: Evidence from Bangladesh
title_full_unstemmed Doctor‐patient relationship: Evidence from Bangladesh
title_short Doctor‐patient relationship: Evidence from Bangladesh
title_sort doctor patient relationship evidence from bangladesh
topic Bangladesh
doctor's perception
doctor‐patient relationship
patient perception
public perception
trust
url https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.394
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AT mdragaulazim doctorpatientrelationshipevidencefrombangladesh
AT mdsirajulislam doctorpatientrelationshipevidencefrombangladesh