Medical care
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Multicenter Study
Patient and visit characteristics related to physicians' participatory decision-making style. Results from the Medical Outcomes Study.
This article identifies the characteristics of patients and office visits associated with decreased mutual decision-making between physicians and patients. In the baseline cross-sectional survey of the Medical Outcomes Study we measured specific patient characteristics hypothesized to influence participatory decision-making (PDM) styles of physicians. We related these characteristics to the PDM style scores for their physicians. ⋯ We have identified seven patient and visit characteristics that maximize or compromise the effectiveness of interpersonal care. Recognizing those at risk for suboptimal interpersonal care may be a first step in improving the management of chronic disease. Key words: participatory decision-making style; interpersonal care; doctor-patient communication.