Factors influencing patients’ preferences for their treating physician

OBJECTIVES: To explore preferences of the patients attending King Abdulaziz Medical City (KAMC), Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in their treating physicians and to determine demographic and personal factors influencing their preferences. METHODS: Through a cross sectional design, 366 patients attending KAMC were systematically selected, and were requested to a pre-designed valid questionnaire. The study conducted between November 2017 and January 2018. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences was used for statistical analysis which included independent sample t-test, ANOVA and Pearson correlation. A p-value<0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: The study showed that females were significantly more preferring to get information, careful examination and receiving attention. Older respondents were interested in finding out how serious is their problem and having enough time for talking about their condition. Higher income respondents focused on necessity of physician caring for their personal situation. Highly educated individuals were concerned about getting enough information, and patients with chronic diseases were much interested by the truth of their condition. Each dimension of the personality traits was significantly correlated with different package of preferences in their treating physician. CONCLUSION: Respondents’ preferences in their treating physician are significantly influenced by their demographic characteristics as well as their personality traits. It is highly recommended that physicians, generally, should be attentive listener, informative while discussion, maintaining eye contact and showing interest and empathy for adult middle-aged patient. Also, to consider other preferable features based on patients’ demographics and personalities.