Choosing a Specialist: An Explanatory Study of Factors Influencing Patients in Choosing a Urologist.
Autor: | Tamalunas A; Department of Urology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany., Buchner A; Department of Urology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany., Hennenberg M; Department of Urology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany., Stadelmeier LF; Department of Urology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany., Höhn H; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany., Vilsmaier T; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany., Mumm ML; Department of Political and Social Sciences, Institute for Media and Communication Studies, Freie Universität, Berlin, Germany., Kolben T; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany., Stief CG; Department of Urology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany., Mumm JN; Department of Urology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany. |
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Jazyk: | angličtina |
Zdroj: | Urologia internationalis [Urol Int] 2021; Vol. 105 (9-10), pp. 749-756. Date of Electronic Publication: 2021 Jul 16. |
DOI: | 10.1159/000517291 |
Abstrakt: | Objectives: While research on doctor-patient interaction has often focused on the decision-making abilities of physicians, it rarely centers around the question of how patients choose their respective practitioners. Research on fundamental decision processes is of high importance and understanding the factors that influence people's choices in real-life decision-making would potentially provide patients, and physicians alike, with the means to provide better resources to achieve greater satisfaction from visits to a medical practitioner. Methods: At our tertiary referral center, patients were given the opportunity to voluntarily participate in our survey. We collected questionnaires from 1,002 patients during their visit from November 2018 to February 2020. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS V26.0 software (SPSS Statistics, Version 26.0.; IBM, Armonk, NY, USA). Results are reported as percentages for categorial variables. Results: Our patient cohort consisted of a higher percentage of men than of women (82 vs. 18%) with significantly more men having a university-based education (44 vs. 31%; p = 0.001). Women were more likely to have statutory health insurance than men (85 vs. 74%; p = 0.013). Men significantly preferred to be treated by a doctor of the same sex (24 vs. 8%; p < 0.001), which significantly increased with age. Overall, more women than men trusted a referral by their primary care physician (75 vs. 66%, p = 0.017), while preference of a higher academic degree in the attending urologist was significantly correlated with the patients' education. Conclusions: Information on a specialist, such as professional qualifications and academic accomplishments, is easily accessible to patients with or without access to the Internet. However, recommendations and referrals, in addition to consistent care by the same treating physician, seem to be of high importance to all patients, regardless of gender or age. (© 2021 S. Karger AG, Basel.) |
Databáze: | MEDLINE |
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