Lay evaluation of medical treatment and competence development of a model of the function of the physician's affective behavior
Ben-Sira, Z.
Social Science and Medicine 16(9): 1013-1019
1982
ISSN/ISBN: 0277-9536 PMID: 7112169 DOI: 10.1016/0277-9536(82)90370-7Document Number: 424823
Conclusions of earlier studies regarding the significance of the physician's affective behavior in patients' satisfaction with the medical treatment gained additional empirical support and further application. A study among a representative sample of Israeli adults ascertained that the inclination to judge medical treatment on the basis of the GP (general practitioner) affective behavior increases with the increase in the salience of the medical problem. It also revealed that the satisfaction with a physician's affective behavior determines to a great extent the evaluation of professional competence, the choice of alternative treatment agents and the evaluation of that alternative agent's professional competence.