K. Leibowitz2, A. Crum2, C. Mueller1 1Stanford University,Surgery,Palo Alto, CA, USA 2Stanford University,Psychology,Palo Alto, CA, USA
Introduction: Research suggests that the patient-provider relationship influences satisfaction for both physicians and patients. We propose that physicians have mindsets (lenses or frames though which we see and understand the world) about what it means to be a “good” doctor and about the costs and benefits of patient-provider interactions. These mindsets influence provider behavior and communication with patients. Further, we suggest that these mindsets can be linked to provider satisfaction and burnout.
Methods: 385 physicians across a range of medical specialties and years of practice participated in an online survey about their views of being a doctor and on the importance of patient relationships.
Results: We found that physicians who believe in the essential and enhancing quality of the patient-provider relationship spent significantly more time engaging in caring behaviors with patients and experienced less burnout than physicians who believe that connecting with patients is both an afterthought and undermining to clinical care. We also found that surgeons were more likely to view relationships with patients as a negative and costly influence than were other physicians surveyed.
Conclusion: Surgeons and other physicians who view the patient-provider relationship more negatively display fewer caring behaviors and may be at higher risk for burnout than those with a positive view of this interaction.