Changes in the degree of patient expectations for patient-centered care in a primary care setting

To date, the medical environment has been undergoing continual changes. It is therefore imperative that clinicians recognize the changing trends in the degree of patient expectations for patient-centered care. We conducted this study to examine changes in the degree of patient expectations for patient-centered care and the related socio-demographic factors in a primary care setting over a 5-year period.

We evaluated patients' attitudes toward patient-centered care using the Patient-Practitioner Orientation Scale, which provides 'sharing' and 'caring' scores. The study included 359 and 468 patients in phase I (March-July, 2005) and II (March-July, 2010). We also examined the relationship of their changes to their socio-demographic factors.

In phase II, as compared with phase I, the 'sharing' score was higher (3.67 ± 0.68 vs. 3.82 ± 0.44; P < 0.001) and 'caring' one was lower (4.01 ± 0.57 vs. 3.67 ± 0.58; P = 0.001). Further, 'sharing' and 'caring' scores were associated with age, monthly income, education level, marital status, and the functional health status of patients.

These results would be of help for providing patient-centered care for patients because it makes clinicians are aware of the degree to which patients' expect it.