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Delivering a Patient-Focused Health Service
The views of physicians in Barbados
Clare Xanthos
Abstract
The primary aim of this study is the exploration of the views of physicians in Barbados on the provision of a patient-focused health service. Qualitative interviews were conducted with fifteen physicians based at a teaching hospital in Barbados. The data was analysed in relation to literature on the physician-patient relationship with particular reference to 'patient-focused' versus 'provider-focused' approaches to health care delivery.
Results were first, that while the concept of patient-focused care has gained some recognition in Barbados over the last five years, several respondents considered health care delivery was in general not patient-focused. Secondly, with regard to the sample of physicians interviewed, there were different approaches to health care delivery and varying extents to which physicians were 'patient-focused' in relation to different issues.
Three broad approaches were identified: 'patient-focused', 'provider-focused' and 'intermediate'. Thirdly, physicians could also be grouped into three 'types' consistent with these three broad approaches; that is, patient-focused, provider-focused, and intermediate.
Keywords
patient-focused, provider-focused, physician-patient relationship, physicians’ views, Barbados, sociology
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