Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.3325/cmj.2013.54.185
Are physician-patient communication practices slowly changing in Croatia? – a cross-sectional questionnaire study
Luka Vučemilo
; Institute for Ear, Nose and Throat Disease and Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Merkur University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia
Marko Ćurković
; University of Zagreb, School of Medicine, Andrija Štampar School of Public Health, Zagreb, Croatia
Milan Milošević
; University of Zagreb, School of Medicine, Andrija Štampar School of Public Health, Zagreb, Croatia
Jadranka Mustajbegović
; University of Zagreb, School of Medicine, Andrija Štampar School of Public Health, Zagreb, Croatia
Ana Borovečki
; University of Zagreb, School of Medicine, Andrija Štampar School of Public Health, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
Aim To explore physician-patient communication practices
during the process of obtaining informed consent in a
hospital setting in Croatia.
Methods Two hundred and fifty patients (response rate
78%) from five tertiary level hospitals in Zagreb, Croatia,
anonymously filled in the questionnaire on informed consent
and communication practices by Nemcekova et al in
the period from April to December 2011.
Results Eighty five percent of patients received complete,
understandable information, presented in a considerate
manner. Patients in surgical departments received a
higher level of information than those in internal medicine
departments. Patients were informed about health risks
of the proposed treatments (in 74% of cases) and procedures
(76%), health consequences of refusing a medical intervention
(69%), and other methods of treatment (46%).
However, patients pointed out a number of problems in
physician-patient communication.
Conclusion Communication practices during informed
consent-obtaining process in hospitals in Zagreb are
based on a model of shared decision-making, but paternalistic
physician-patient relationship is still present. Our
results indicate that Croatia is undergoing a transition in
the physician-patient relationship and communication.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
104745
URI
Publication date:
15.4.2013.
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