Perception of communication between doctors and patients - On-line research among doctors in Croatia

Different studies clearly show that doctor-patient relationship and communication are extremely important. They have a big influence on the outcome of medical treatment, but also on the cooperability, quality of life, safety of patients, teamwork, cultural sensitivity and fewer complaints to the doctor+s work. In this paper, we present results of our original research about attitudes of doctors and their perception related to the importance of communication between doctors and patients and person-centered approach.

This cross-sectional study used a 28 items on-line survey to collect data from doctors in the period from 29 September 2015 till 23 November 2015 by using the Google forms. Total of 939 doctors from the entire Croatia responded.

Main results of the study suggest that doctors are aware of the importance of communication between doctors and patients and that education about communication skills was not appropriate during their study. Doctors have undoubtedly expressed their desire for further development and learning about a better communication between doctors and patients and they have showed in this research that they love their job.

The research unambiguously speaks in favor of the need of the significant strengthening of this segment within the program of the School of Medicine and support the current changes in the medical curriculum at the School of medicine University of Zagreb.