Attitudes of First-Year Medical Students Towards the Doctor Patient Relationship

Abstract

In recent years, medical schools all over the world have instituted a variety of curricula to teach
communication skills, professional values and ethics to medical students. Studies on the student
attitudes towards doctor-patient relationships are lacking in Nepal. The present study was carried
out to obtain information on the sharing and caring dimensions of the doctor-patient relationship
and note any association of the dimensions with the demographic characteristics of the respondents.
The study was carried out among first year students of the Manipal College of Medical Sciences,
Pokhara, Nepal in August 2003 using the patient-practitioner orientation scale. One hundred and
sixty-five students participated. The mean ± SD total, caring and sharing scores were 3.71 ± 0.48,
3.51 ± 0.55 and 3.91 ± 0.62 respectively. Students whose first degree relative was a doctor had higher
sharing score compared to those without doctor relatives. Female students had higher scores. Students
had a positive attitude towards the doctor-patient relationship. Our scores were lower than
those reported previously. Further studies are required and the results obtained will be helpful in
designing a doctor-patient relationship course for Nepal.

Key Words: Attitude, doctor-patient relationship, medical students, patient-centred care.