English summary: Physicians’ experience as patients

Physicians fall ill just like everyone else. They are also known to treat their own symptoms and diseases themselves, and many continue to work in spite of illness. The aim here was to investigate the kinds of experience physicians had had when being patients themselves.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey in public health care was carried out in the Tampere University Hospital catchment area, Finland, with the response rate being 65%. Research data comprised answers from 463 primary health care (PHC) physicians and 780 hospital physicians. The survey questionnaire included structured questions with regard to whether the respondents had been patients themselves and who had been in charge of their care. As to the latter question, the answer options were: “I myself”, “A colleague” and “Can’t say”. Physicians’ opinions were inquired about with questions “Are physician-patients dealt with the same way as any other patients?” and “Are physician-patients appropriately treated when they fall ill?” The answer options to these two questions were: “No”, “Yes”, and “Can’t say”. The last page of the questionnaire included a section headed: “My own experience as a patient or as a physician-patient’s doctor” and space was provided for free answers. The answers were analysed qualitatively using a collective consensus method.

Results

Of the respondents, 91% had at some time been patients themselves. Of these, 87% reported that a colleague had been responsible for their care, while 6% reported having been responsible for care themselves and 7% were unable to say who had been in charge of their care. Of those who had at some time been patients (n=1126), 27% (n=302) described their experiences in free answer format.

Good experiences as patients outnumbered the bad ones. Respondents reported that being familiar with the medical concepts and language made communication with the treating doctor easier. Furthermore, they reported that examinations and care had been well explained to them and that the care they had received was likewise excellent. On the other hand there were negative experiences: the physician-patients reported that they were not actively listened to and/or, their problems were not taken seriously. Physician-patients were sometimes left in charge of their own care. Prescriptions were not written, and referrals and/or rehabilitation were not arranged.

Conclusions

Many physician-patients had had positive experiences of having been patients. Some doctors, however, reported having been ignored when seeking medical help. The opportunity to experience the patient’s perspective was seen as important. The treating physician should be in charge of physician-patients’ care. Some respondents, however, reported having been left alone to organize their own care even with regard to serious diseases. Most physician-patients wished to be dealt with like any other patients.