Investigating patients' attitudes regarding the characteristics of desirable physician

Patient satisfaction is an important measure of health care services quality because it provides essential information about patients' expectations and how well they are being met. Failure to identify patients' expectations can lead to dissatisfaction with the provided care, reduced acceptance of treatment and inappropriate use of facilities and resources. The aim of this study was to investigate patients' attitudes about desirable physician characteristics

This cross-sectional study was performed in 2017 on 400 patients and accompanying patients referred to Ghaem, Imam Reza, and Dr.Sheikh Medical Center. After approval by the ethics committee, a questionnaire containing questions about demographic characteristics (age, gender, physical characteristics, etc.) and information about the physician's communication skills, as well as the physical condition of the clinic and how to access the physician was asked which its validity and reliability have been confirmed by a medical education expert. Finally, SPSS statistical software was used to evaluate the results.

Spending time visiting patients' (3.8  0.88) and their full examination (4 0.92) had the highest score. Being older (3.18 0.8), male gender (2.6 1), crowded office (2.8  0.87) and having a personal office (2.7 0.89) was in the second degree. Had a make-up appearance (2.2 0.86), Being frowning and serious (2.1 0.83), Having administrative and important positions (2.4 1.14), free visits of patients (2.5 0.85), internet appointments (2.4 0.99), offices in the upper quarters of the city (2.2 1.01), stylish and luxurious offices (2.3 0.86), prescription rare and expensive drugs (2.07   0.84) and night shift work (2.0 0.76) got  less than half of the score and being religious (1.7 0.86) or being rich (1.8 0.77) received the lowest scores.

What makes a doctor popular and considered desirable by patients is neither a religious appearance nor a stylish appearance, nor a luxurious office, nor important positions, but spending time to visit and examine the patient and the importance of his problems and efforts to treat them.