Physician Communication

Questions arise from the beginning of Medical School through physician’s years in practice on what is the best way to address patients.

According to a survey reported in the June 11 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, most patients prefer their physicians to greet them with a handshake and to introduce themselves using their first and last name.

Communication skills are very important, but there is little evidence regarding what constitutes an appropriate greeting.

This survey was to provide some guidance for medical students, residents, and practicing physicians by defining patient expectations for physician behaviors during the greeting stage of medical visits. It primarily focused on patients that were new or that the physician had no long-term relationship.

The survey was done using a computer-assisted telephone survey of adults in the 48 contiguous United States. The investigators asked closed-ended questions about preferences for shaking hands, use of patient names, and use of physician names and in order to characterize patterns of greeting behavior in everyday clinical practice, they also analyzed an existing sample of 123 videotaped new patient visits.

Although patient expectations varied somewhat with patient sex, age, and race, most (78.1%) of the 415 survey respondents reported that they wanted the physician to shake their hand, 50.4% wanted their first name to be used when physicians greeted them, and 56.4% wanted physicians to introduce themselves using their first and last names.

More women than men and African Americans than whites preferred that the physicians use both first and last names when introducing him or herself.

Other physician characteristics of value to patients interviewed by telephone included smiling, being friendly, being warm and respectful, and being attentive and calm.

Videotapes showed that physicians and patients shook hands in 82.9% of visits but, in 50.4% of the initial encounters, physicians did not mention the patient's name at all. However, physicians tended to use their first and last names when introducing themselves.

The recommendations were that physicians should be encouraged to shake hands with patients but remain sensitive to nonverbal cues that might indicate whether patients are open to this behavior.

The medical interview is one of the most important tools for any physician and greetings create a first impression that may extend far beyond what is conventionally seen as 'bedside manner.'"

How do you like your physician to greet you?