Evaluation of Physicians‘ Communication Skills at Primary Health Care Centers, KSA, 2016

Mona Ahmed Al–Shaikh; Abdullah Al–Khathami

Volume : VI, Issue : IV, April - 2017

Evaluation of Physicians‘ Communication Skills at Primary Health Care Centers, KSA, 2016

Mona Ahmed Al Shaikh, Abdullah Al Khathami

Abstract :

Background: Effective communication is a critical skill that has many benefits for both patients and doctors.

Objective: This study aimed to assess communication skills among primary health care physicians by exploring patients� views regarding during consultations.

Method: This was a cross–sectional study conducted at eleven (11) Primary Health Care Centers in Al–Khobar, Saudi Arabia, in which a questionnaire was designed to collect data. Descriptive analyses were conducted. A P–value < 0.05 was the criterion for significance.

Results: A total of 42 physicians and 198 patients were included. The communication skills was classified into four subscale domains. Of the four subscale domains of communication skills, general kindness achieved the highest mean score � SD, of 3.98 � 0.9, whereas the psychological/social domain achieved the lowest mean score � SD, at 2.86 � 1.4. The findings indicated that there is a significant positive correlation between physician specialty and general kindness, quality of care and psychological/social assessment, with p–values of 0.002, 0.043, and 0.001, respectively.

Conclusion: The majority of physicians have some deficiencies in communication skills, especially in the psychological and social aspects.