IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/plo/pone00/0240747.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Patient-provider relationships in China: A qualitative study on the perspectives of healthcare students and junior professionals

Author

Listed:
  • Yuxian Du
  • Yan Du
  • Nengliang Yao

Abstract

Background: Mistrust and conflicts in patient-provider relationships (PPR) have become prevalent in China. The frequency of verbal and physical violence against healthcare workers has been increasing, but few interventions seem to be effective. Limited prior research has focused on the perspectives of healthcare professionals in training. This paper aimed to understand their viewpoints and conceptualize potentially actionable areas for future policy interventions. Methods: We analyzed de-identified training registration data of a convenience sample of 151 healthcare students and 38 junior professionals from 20 provinces in China. One open-ended question in the registration form asked the participant to comment on PPRs in China. We used qualitative thematic coding to analyze the narrative data. All answers were categorized into three overarching frames: patients, providers, and external agencies/regulations. Frequently mentioned themes in each frame were evaluated to generate an overall theoretical framework. Findings: Although fewer than 25% indicated that current PPRs are "good" or acceptable, 98% of respondents were optimistic about the future improvement of these relationships. The leading factors of PPRs mentioned as patient-relevant were eroding trust in the physician, unrealistic expectations, and ineffective communication. The provider-relevant themes highlighted were poor service quality, ineffective communication, and heavy workload. Leading themes relevant to external agencies or regulations were dysfunctional administration system, negative media reports, and disparity in healthcare resource distribution. Interpretation: Healthcare professionals in training had a negative view of the current situation but had confidence in future improvement. Patient, provider, and societal factors all contributed to the tension between patients and providers. All aspects of the healthcare sector should be carefully considered when contemplating policy or social interventions to improve the patient-provider relationship.

Suggested Citation

  • Yuxian Du & Yan Du & Nengliang Yao, 2020. "Patient-provider relationships in China: A qualitative study on the perspectives of healthcare students and junior professionals," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(10), pages 1-11, October.
  • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0240747
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0240747
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0240747
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0240747&type=printable
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1371/journal.pone.0240747?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. He, Alex Jingwei, 2014. "The doctor–patient relationship, defensive medicine and overprescription in Chinese public hospitals: Evidence from a cross-sectional survey in Shenzhen city," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 64-71.
    2. Shinduk Lee & Wenxin Wang & David J. Washburn & Hongmei Shi & Yue Yu & Yuxian Du & Hao Zhang & Jay E. Maddock, 2018. "Effect of the treatment‐before‐deposit policy on trust in physicians and perceived service quality among patients in 12 hospitals in China," International Journal of Health Planning and Management, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(4), pages 1110-1120, October.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Wenxin & W. & Bentum-Micah & G. & Zhiqiang & M. & Bing & L. & Asabea Addo & A. & Boadi & B.E. & Atuahene & A.S. & Bondzie-Micah & V., 2020. "The Influence of Encounter Service Quality on Patient Satisfaction: An Empirical Study in Chinese Public Hospitals," International Journal of Economics & Business Administration (IJEBA), International Journal of Economics & Business Administration (IJEBA), vol. 0(3), pages 461-477.
    2. Wenxin & W. & Bentum-Micah & G. & Zhiqiang & M. & Bing & L. & Asabea Addo & A. & Boadi & B.E. & Atuahene & A.S. & Bondzie-Micah & V., 2020. "The Influence of Encounter Service Quality on Patient Satisfaction: An Empirical Study in Chinese Public Hospitals," International Journal of Economics & Business Administration (IJEBA), International Journal of Economics & Business Administration (IJEBA), vol. 0(3), pages 466-482.
    3. Dongxu Li & Min Su & Xi Guo & Weile Zhang & Tianjiao Zhang, 2022. "The Effect of Medical Choice on Health Costs of Middle-Aged and Elderly Patients with Chronic Disease: Based on Principal-Agent Theory," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-14, June.
    4. Xin Zhao & Xiaoxue Li & Benno Torgler & Uwe Dulleck, 2021. "Patient violence, physicians treatment decisions, and patient welfare: Evidence from China," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 30(6), pages 1461-1479, June.
    5. Zhan Wang & Niying Li & Mengsi Jiang & Keith Dear & Chee-Ruey Hsieh, 2017. "Records of medical malpractice litigation: A potential indicator of healthcare quality in China," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2017-144, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    6. Mengna Luan & Wenjing Shi & Zhigang Tao & Hongjie Yuan, 2023. "When patients have better insurance coverage in China: Provider incentives, costs, and quality of care," Economics of Transition and Institutional Change, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(4), pages 1073-1106, October.
    7. Jiwei Qian & Alex Jingwei He, 2018. "The Bonus Scheme, Motivation Crowding-out and Quality of the Doctor-Patient Encounters in Chinese Public Hospitals," Public Organization Review, Springer, vol. 18(2), pages 143-158, June.
    8. Yu Xia & Jing Li & Zhongyang Zhang, 2023. "Effects of price cap regulation on pharmaceutical supply chain under the zero markup drug policy," Operational Research, Springer, vol. 23(4), pages 1-27, December.
    9. Jesús María Aranaz Andrés & José Lorenzo Valencia-Martín & Jorge Vicente-Guijarro & Cristina Díaz-Agero Pérez & Nieves López-Fresneña & Irene Carrillo & José Joaquín Mira Solves & SOBRINA Working Grou, 2020. "Low-Value Clinical Practices: Knowledge and Beliefs of Spanish Surgeons and Anesthetists," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(10), pages 1-14, May.
    10. Liu, Junqiang & Zhou, Hui & Liu, Lingrui & Wang, Chunxiao, 2020. "The weakness of the strong: Examining the squeaky-wheel effect of hospital violence in China," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 245(C).
    11. Zhao, Chunjuan & Ma, Wen, 2020. "Patient resistance towards clinicians’ diagnostic test-taking advice and its management in Chinese outpatient clinic interaction," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 258(C).
    12. Ying Mao & Wei Ning & Ning Zhang & Tao Xie & Jinnan Liu & Yongbo Lu & Bin Zhu, 2021. "The Therapeutic Relationship in China: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-19, March.
    13. Antoci, Angelo & Fiori Maccioni, Alessandro & Russu, Paolo & Sacco, Pier Luigi, 2022. "Curing is caring? Liability reforms, defensive medicine and malpractice litigation in a post-pandemic world," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).
    14. Si, Yafei & Bateman, Hazel & Chen, Shu & Hanewald, Katja & Li, Bingqin & Su, Min & Zhou, Zhongliang, 2023. "Quantifying the financial impact of overuse in primary care in China: A standardised patient study," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 320(C).
    15. Shanmugam R, 2018. "Impact of Raising Copayment and/or Reducing Reimbursement Benefits on Healthcare according to “Disequilibrium Bivariate Distributionâ€," Biostatistics and Biometrics Open Access Journal, Juniper Publishers Inc., vol. 5(1), pages 1-13, February.
    16. Liu, Gordon & Yi, Junjian & Yuan, Ye & Zhao, Shaoyang, 2023. "The short- and long-run effects of medical malpractice lawsuits on medical spending and hospital operations in China," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 51(4), pages 1142-1161.
    17. Jing Sun & Jing Ma & Guangyu Hu & Qi Zhao & Changzheng Yuan & Wen Si & Xinqing Zhang & Yuanli Liu, 2017. "Welfare, wellness, and job satisfaction of Chinese physicians: A national survey of public tertiary hospitals in China," International Journal of Health Planning and Management, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(3), pages 270-284, July.
    18. Linghan Shan & Ye Li & Ding Ding & Qunhong Wu & Chaojie Liu & Mingli Jiao & Yanhua Hao & Yuzhen Han & Lijun Gao & Jiejing Hao & Lan Wang & Weilan Xu & Jiaojiao Ren, 2016. "Patient Satisfaction with Hospital Inpatient Care: Effects of Trust, Medical Insurance and Perceived Quality of Care," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(10), pages 1-18, October.
    19. Grigore TINICA & Mihaela TOMAZIU-TODOSIA & Gabriel-Catalin TOMAZIU-TODOSIA & Raluca Ozana CHISTOL & Diana BULGARU-ILIESCU & Cristina FURNICA, 2017. "Defensive Medicine: Myths and Realities," Book chapters-LUMEN Proceedings, in: Camelia IGNATESCU & Antonio SANDU & Tomita CIULEI (ed.), Rethinking Social Action. Core Values in Practice, edition 1, volume 1, chapter 82, pages 898-910, Editura Lumen.
    20. Wang, Nan Christine & Liu, Yuetong, 2021. "Going shopping or consulting in medical visits: Caregivers’ roles in pediatric antibiotic prescribing in China," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 290(C).

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0240747. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: plosone (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/ .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.