Emotional profile of physicians who interview frequent attenders

Seventy-five physicians at primary health care centers in Spain described their emotions and thoughts during interviews with frequent attenders. Emotion scales were developed by factor and reliability analysis. Positive emotions were associated with younger physician age and with the thought “This p...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Patient education and counseling 2002-09, Vol.48 (1), p.33-41
Main Authors: Bellón, Juan Ángel, Fernández-Asensio, Marı́a Eugenia
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Difficult patient
Emotions
Female
Frequent attender
Health Services - utilization
Humans
Interviews as Topic
Male
Nursing
Office Visits - statistics & numerical data
Physician-Patient Relations
Physicians - psychology
Surveys and Questionnaires
Utilization of services
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Summary:Seventy-five physicians at primary health care centers in Spain described their emotions and thoughts during interviews with frequent attenders. Emotion scales were developed by factor and reliability analysis. Positive emotions were associated with younger physician age and with the thought “This patient really needs me.” Feelings of lack of control were associated with rural centers and with the thoughts “Oh my God, him/her again!” and “This patient is really a pain.” Anxiogenic emotions were associated with greater workload, requests for tests, requests to see the doctor outside regular hours, and the thoughts “Oh my God, him/her again!” and “I think this patient is trying to use me.” Guilt feelings were associated with a lower perceived ability to solve the patient’s problem, and with a poor physician–patients relationship. Sadness was associated with more frequent referrals to specialists. Awareness and acceptance of their emotions may improve physicians’ emotional intelligence and physician–patient relationships.
ISSN:0738-3991
1873-5134
DOI:10.1016/S0738-3991(02)00097-6