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Qualities men value when communicating with general practitioners: implications for primary care settings
James A Smith1, Annette J Braunack-Mayer, Gary A Wittert
1University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia. james.smith@adelaide.edu.au
The Medical Journal of Australia
|December 9, 2008
Summary
Men value a frank approach, competence, humour, empathy, and prompt issue resolution when communicating with general practitioners (GPs). These qualities can improve male patient care in primary care settings.
Area of Science:
- Primary Care Medicine
- Qualitative Health Research
- Men's Health
Background:
- Effective communication is crucial in primary care.
- Understanding patient preferences enhances healthcare delivery.
- Men's health seeking behaviours and communication needs require specific attention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify the essential qualities men seek in communication with general practitioners (GPs).
- To explore how these qualities influence men's engagement with primary care.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative study utilizing semi-structured interviews.
- 36 Australian men, stratified by age and marital status, participated.
- Interviews explored health-seeking behaviour and service use in non-clinical settings.
Main Results:
- Men prioritize a "frank approach", demonstrable competence, and appropriate humour from GPs.
- Empathy and efficient resolution of health concerns were identified as key values.
- These findings highlight specific communication preferences for male patients.
Conclusions:
- The valued qualities align with, but do not fully encompass, patient-centred care.
- Adopting these communication strategies can improve doctor-patient relationships with men.
- Enhanced communication has the potential to improve the quality of care for men in primary care.
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