The effect of patient perception of physician on patient compliance

The patient-physician interaction is a crucial aspect of treatment, and patient perception of the physician can significantly impact the treatment outcome. Patient compliance is a significant factor in treatment outcomes, and past research has identified a connection between patient satisfaction and treatment adherence. However, an individual’s perception of their physician does not necessarily correspond directly to satisfaction, and thus, there is a lack of literature on the direct link between perception and compliance. In this study, we examined the effect of how patients perceive their physician on their compliance with physician directions. We hypothesized that those indicating more positive perceptions of their physician would demonstrate higher compliance rates than those with more negative perceptions. The patients anonymously analyzed were those visiting local medical offices during the collection period, and each patient received a short paper survey using the multiple-choice Likert scale to query perception, compliance, and additional factors. The survey also included free-response questions to collect patients’ demographic information. We calculated a weighted average incorporating individual responses and other correlating factors to provide more comprehensive results for all responses on perception or compliance. Our hypothesis was highly supported, with the data displaying a positive correlation between perception and compliance scores, indicating an association between the two. Our study’s outcomes offer a myriad of applications for the healthcare system regarding treatment adherence and patient satisfaction and provide a foundation for further research to improve patient compliance and outcomes through patient perception.