Exploring Patient Awareness and the Feasibility of Mediation in Healthcare: A Pilot Study in Bulgaria

The healthcare system is complex and emotionally charged, which frequently leads to conflicts between patients and healthcare providers as a result of inadequate communication and unmet patient expectations. This pilot study investigates patient awareness and the feasibility of mediation as an alternative conflict resolution method in healthcare.

A cross-sectional survey of 40 Bulgarian citizens was conducted to evaluate their experiences with physician-patient communication, their opinions regarding the effectiveness of the legal system, and their awareness of mediation.

According to the findings, more than half of the respondents reported difficulties communicating with their physicians, and only 5% believed the judicial system was effective in resolving disputes in healthcare. While many were familiar with mediation, only 2.5% had used it to address healthcare-related problems.

This pilot study underscores the need for targeted education and trust-building initiatives to facilitate the implementation of mediation in healthcare. Improving patient-physician communication and introducing mediation could enhance healthcare quality and patients' trust, providing a more efficient and satisfactory conflict resolution mechanism.