The Lebanese physician: a public's viewpoint

Area of Science:

• Medical Ethics
• Sociology of Health
• Healthcare Communication

Background:

• Public perception indicates a growing concern regarding the humanity of physicians.
• The physician-patient relationship is increasingly viewed as transactional rather than compassionate.
• This trend is observed globally and specifically examined within the Lebanese context.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate public perceptions of physician traits in Lebanon.
• To identify desired and undesired characteristics in healthcare practitioners.
• To explore the perceived state of the physician-patient relationship and propose remedies.

Main Methods:

• A questionnaire-based study was conducted with 650 participants in Lebanon.
• Participants represented diverse geographical, social, and educational backgrounds.
• The open-ended questionnaire was piloted to ensure reliability.

Main Results:

• The most desired physician traits were moral (41%) and interpersonal (36%).
• The most unwanted traits included a lack of interpersonal skills (57%) and moral qualities (40%).
• The physician-patient relationship was generally perceived as flawed.

Conclusions:

• There is a significant public demand for more humane and ethically grounded medical professionals.
• Addressing deficiencies in interpersonal skills and moral conduct is crucial for improving the physician-patient dynamic.
• Nine recommendations are proposed to enhance the image of Lebanese physicians.