[Interaction between physician and patient]

Area of Science:

• Psychosomatic Medicine
• Medical Sociology

Context:

• Investigated patient-oriented therapeutic visits in a psychosomatic experimental station.
• Focused on understanding the perceived importance and role of the chief physician.

Purpose:

• To elucidate the significance and role of the chief physician in psychosomatic patient care.
• To compare self-perceptions and external perceptions of the chief physician's role.

Summary:

• Utilized Osgood's "semantic differential" (German version by Ertel) to gather self-evaluation and external evaluations.
• Data collected from chief physicians, resident doctors, and patients after fifteen visits.
• Patients and resident doctors perceived the chief physician as a "king" or "father figure".

Impact:

• Highlights a discrepancy between how chief physicians are viewed by patients/colleagues and their self-perception.
• Suggests potential areas for improved communication and role clarity in psychosomatic settings.
• Informs understanding of hierarchical dynamics and therapeutic relationships in mental healthcare.