Journal of General Practice

The Consultation in Primary Care: Physician Attributes that Influence Patients Satisfaction in Calabar, Nigeria

Abstract

Ita Bassey Okokon and Udoezuo Kingsley Ogbonna

Background: The Consultation is of immense importance in primary care. This study aimed to utilize physician attributes in the patient-care process in determining the proportion of patients who were satisfied or otherwise with the consultation at their doctor-patient interaction. Method: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study undertaken in the Family Medicine Clinic of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria. A modified post consultation version of the General Practice Assessment Questionnaire was administered to 430 patients aged 18 to 67 years, who were selected through a process of systematic random sampling over a period of three weeks. Data generated in this study was analyzed using the statistical package for social sciences version 11. Results: Of the 430 subjects studied, 46.74% were males and 53.26% females. The physician attributes shown to positively affect patients’ satisfaction with the consultation included: manner of asking the patients about their feeling regarding their illnesses, detailed enquiry about the patients’ symptoms, discussing the origin of the patients’ illnesses, involving the patients in decisions about the care and explaining the patients’ problems and any treatment needed. Others were: making the patients feel at ease during the examination, showing care and concern and addressing their main presenting problems. Conclusion: The study demonstrated clearly that physician attributes greatly influence the outcome of the Consultation in Primary Care.