Introduction
The doctor-patient connection requires open communication and trust between the medical professional and the client. A cooperative connection between patients and healthcare professionals is one in which the individual deliberately requests the doctor’s help and the clinician willingly acknowledges the individual as a patient. Fundamentally, the doctor-patient relationship can be characterized as fiduciary since by accepting the client as a patient; the general practitioner commits to upholding the patient’s rights, maintaining confidentiality, disclosing all alternative treatments, obtaining informed consent, and delivering the highest degree of care. A formal description of the doctor-patient relationship, nevertheless, does not adequately describe its vast and comprehensive scope. Patients occasionally share concerns, anxieties, and emotions with doctors that they have still not shared with intimate family members and friends. As a result, doctor-patient relationships promote the physical and mental health of the patient and assist the doctor in providing the highest level of treatment.
Doctor-Patient Relationship from the Perspective of Competitive Advantage
Prior to now, clinical decision-makers failed to see the deeper value of the patient-physician relationship. Nevertheless, doctors and health care providers now view and refer to this connection as a strategic management function for several essential factors. In the contemporary competitive world, doctors’ performance is dependent on patient satisfaction, which creates severe rivalry similar to that found in many other businesses (Blount, 2019). Secondly, the treatment is viewed by patients as a credibility service, which is challenging to assess impartially (Berger et al., 2020). As a result, trust becomes apparent as a crucial component in developing a solid and meaningful relationship. Thirdly, studies in medicine have demonstrated that a close bond between a doctor and patient improves the quality of the treatment received (Berger et al., 2020). Thus, doctor-patient relationships is the foundation of a successful healthcare organization and allow the institution to build a competitive edge.
Doctor-Patient Relationship as a Healing Accelerator
The patient-physician connection has historically been organized based on the idea of what is often described as the therapeutic paradigm, which understands the shared commitment in a pragmatic and teleological way. The client is thought to have an illness brought on by either an outside force or a broken down system that is the cause of their suffering. If this ailment is identified and successfully treated, the patient’s health will be restored. This examination highlights a lot of common medical procedures (Berger et al., 2020). On the contrary, the relational model is concerned with the effectiveness of the patient-doctor communication process (Berger et al., 2020). The connection has now become one in which both participants participate while exchanging information, altering the doctor’s previous position as an authority who simply provided technical competence and knowledge to the client. The patient changes from a neutral observer to a vital and active agent in the recovery process (Berger et al., 2020). Communication that fosters mutual trust is essential to the success of any cooperative partnership, but it is especially important in interactions involving services of this nature.
To provide further point, the first factor to which the doctor-patient relationship contributes is the quicker rehabilitation process. In addition to being the best indicator of patients’ happiness, the doctor-patient connection has been found to have an impact on the perceived severity of symptoms. A stronger doctor-patient connection was linked to enhanced interpersonal communication and patient activity, which in turn favorably impacted the condition and resulted in a reduction in patients’ anxiety and confusion (Riedl and Gerhard, 2017). The reason behind it is not only reduced anxiety but the mutual trust and care, which allows the patient to feel supported both physically and mentally.
At this point, a hospitable and compassionate environment during treatments might additionally potentially boost the placebo effect. In a sense, enhanced doctor-patient interactions have been linked to increased patient activation, which is the immediate effect of the doctor-patient connection on medical status (Riedl and Gerhard, 2017). As a consequence, the statement implies that enhanced patient-physician relationships are linked to greater disease-related behavior, and improved health and conditions for their patients.
Increased Self-Management
Another factor that makes doctor-patient relationships essential in the healthcare field is the increased self-management of the patients that comes with mutual respect and trust from the physician. Participatory decision-making significantly promotes patient engagement, which in turn can enhance medication compliance and improved health state. What is meant by this is that confusion over their condition and therapy can be a major problem faced by the patients. By evaluating the individuals’ informational preferences, informative demands may be lowered, and patients would be more satisfied if their informational requirements are met (Riedl and Gerhard, 2017). When patients have access to the knowlege from a trusted source, such as a physician, they do not have to search it elsewhere. Additionally, with an appropriate introduction of the information to the individual, one will have a sense of autonomy and a guide on proper self-care. Therefore, the health condition, adherence, and quality of life of the patients will be significantly impacted by better information delivery and health education. Furthermore, longer visits with patients will not be necessary as a result of improved patient education.
Medical Compliance
The last factor that is provided by the doctor-patient relationships aside from self-management is the compliance with the treatment plan. The goal of therapies focusing on relationships and information sharing is to help patients control their conditions better. One of the main factors affecting compliance is the patient’s desire to participate actively in the care of their condition (Blount, 2019). Stronger degrees of patient activation have been attributed to the doctor’s empathy, positive interpersonal interactions, and more equality in the course of therapy; better patient engagement has also been linked to higher prescription compliance (Blount, 2019). Research has demonstrated that effective patient communication may help people feel increasingly autonomous from medical guidance (Blount, 2019). Additionally, it will help them acquire control over complicated conditions and experience an improvement in quality of life. Therefore, the successful integration of physicians’ approaches to build strong relationships will lead to patient compliance with the recommended interventions and treatment plans.
Conclusion
In sum, doctor-patient connections help the patient’s physical and emotional health and allow the doctor to provide the best possible care. The patient-physician relationship has traditionally been structured around the concept of what is sometimes referred to as the therapeutic paradigm, which views the shared commitment in a practical and teleological approach. To make a further point, the quickest rehabilitation process is the first component that the doctor-patient interaction influences. The higher level of patient self-management that results from a doctor’s mutual regard and confidence in the patient is another aspect that makes doctor-patient interactions crucial in the healthcare industry. In addition to self-management, the doctor-patient relationship also influences compliance with the treatment plan.
References
Berger, Ron, Ben Bulmash, Netanel Drori, Ofir Ben-Assuli, and Ram Herstein. “The Patient–Physician Relationship: An Account of the Physician’s Perspective.” Israel Journal of Health Policy Research 9, no. 1 (2020): 1-16.
Blount, Alexander. 2019. Patient-Centered Primary Care: Getting From Good to Great. Germany: Springer International Publishing.
Riedl, David, and Gerhard Schüßler. “The influence of doctor-patient communication on health outcomes: a systematic review.” Zeitschrift für Psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie 63, no. 2 (2017): 131-150. Web.