[Outpatient expectations in dermatology consultations: A pilot study]

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Patient-physician communication
• Healthcare outcomes

Context:

• Understanding patient expectations is vital for effective medical care.
• Dermatology clinics serve diverse patient populations with varied needs.
• Previous research has not fully explored the alignment between patient expectations and physician perceptions in dermatology.

Purpose:

• To determine outpatient expectations in dermatology clinical encounters.
• To compare patient expectations with dermatologists' perceptions of these expectations.
• To assess dermatologists' accuracy in identifying patient expectations.

Summary:

• A cross-sectional study involving 265 outpatients in Paris dermatology centers revealed key patient expectations centered on diagnosis (51.7%) and medication (40.8%).
• Dermatologists' accuracy in identifying patient expectations varied, with matching rates ranging from 33.3% to 65.7%.
• Specific areas showed significant discrepancies, with only 52.6% matching for diagnosis expectations and 58.8% for reassurance needs.

Impact:

• Highlights a critical gap in dermatologists' ability to accurately perceive patient expectations.
• Underscores the need for enhanced communication strategies in dermatology.
• Suggests that improving the identification of patient expectations can lead to more efficient and satisfactory therapeutic processes.