Does doctor-patient communication affect patient satisfaction with hospital care? Results of an analysis with a novel instrumental variable.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To determine the relationship between physicians' communication behaviors and patients' overall satisfaction with hospital care using a novel instrumental variable to address possible confounding of this association by patient attributes.

Data sources/study setting

Administrative records and postdischarge survey data were obtained from patients discharged from the General Medicine service at an urban tertiary-care academic hospital between July 1, 1997 and June 30, 2000. Administrative data included comorbidities, demographic data, and payer status. In the discharge survey, patients rated their attending physician on four communication behaviors, other aspects of their hospital stay, and their overall hospital care.

Study design

The primary outcome was patie

SUBMITTER: Clever SL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2653895 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature