Method Study of Improving Doctor-Patient Relationship by Changing the
Model of the Standardized Training of Residents in China
Abstract
Background: The doctor-patient relationship in China is getting worse in
the recent years. The aim of our study is to evaluate the effect of
evidence-based medicine (EBM) on the communication between residents and
patients and the doctor-patient relationship. Methods: The residents
were evaluated before learning process. Then the residents in the
experimental group were asked to answer a list of questions they may
encounter during communication with patients before interacting with
patients. Residents in the control group received traditional empirical
education. Each resident was graded by a questionnaire filled by
patients and senior doctors. The final test was given in the form of
standardized-patient (SP) test, and the resident is graded by the SP and
the examiner with the same questionnaire. Results: After studying,
grades in all types of disease significantly improved in group B. Both
after study and in the final test, group B performed much better than
group A in all kinds of diseases. Conclusion: This is the first study to
explore whether the doctor-patient relationship can be improved by EBM
utilized in residents’ daily communication with patients. Based on our
results, the new method can benefit the residents in their long-term
professional work, and can relieve the tension of relationship between
doctors and patients in China.