Sheeran N, Jones L, Pines R, Jin B, Pamoso A, Eigeland J, Benedetti M. How culture influences patient preferences for patient-centered care with their doctors.
JOURNAL OF COMMUNICATION IN HEALTHCARE 2023;
16:186-196. [PMID:
37401877 DOI:
10.1080/17538068.2022.2095098]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Patient-centered care (PCC) is the prevailing model of care globally. However, most research on PCC has been conducted in Westernized countries or has focused on only two facets of PCC: decision-making and information exchange. Our study examined how culture influences patients' preferences for five facets of PCC, including communication, decision-making, empathy, individualized focus, and relationship.
METHODS
Participants (N = 2071) from Hong Kong, the Philippines, Australia, and the U.S.A. completed an online survey assessing their preferences for exchange of information, autonomy in decision-making, expression and validation of their emotions, focus on them as an individual, and the doctor-patient relationship.
RESULTS
Participants from all four countries had similar preferences for empathy and shared decision-making. For other facets of PCC, participants in the Philippines and Australia expressed somewhat similar preferences, as did those in the U.S.A. and Hong Kong, challenging East-West stereotypes. Participants in the Philippines placed greater value on relationships, whereas Australians valued more autonomy. Participants in Hong Kong more commonly preferred doctor-directed care, with less importance placed on the relationship. Responses from U.S.A. participants were surprising, as they ranked the need for individualized care and two-way flow of information as least important.
CONCLUSIONS
Empathy, information exchange, and shared decision-making are values shared across countries, while preferences for how the information is shared, and the importance of the doctor-patient relationship differ.
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