Researchers: Michal Biron¹, Dana Yigil ¹, Ilan Yehoshua ²

Background: Studies indicate the positive results of the Patient Centered Care (PCC) approach for most patients. Prior research suggests that physician may experience difficulties to adopt PCC approach. Recognizing the benefits of PCC approach, it is important to understand the factors that influence physicians' willingness to adopt this approach.

Objectives: The study is based on the notion that organizational factors help physicians adopt PCC approach as part of their professional identity. The few studies available on this topic are for the most part qualitative, focusing only on individual-level perceptions of physicians and disregarding the perspectives of other parties to physical treatment. This study sought to provide an organization (clinic)-level understanding of the topic. We integrated data from clinic staff members, physicians and patients to examine the influence of organizational factors on physician adoption of PCC, as well as patients' response to PCC in terms of adherence to, and satisfaction with treatment.

Method: Data was collected using surveys completed by staff members, physicians, and patients at 50 randomly selected clinics across Israel.

Findings: We found a significant positive correlation between service climate experienced by physicians and staff members and the PCC Index, and a correlation between PCC and patient compliance with physician instructions for preventative care. In addition, we found that physicians' empathy (personality trait) helped them to perceive organizational factors as influencing factors in adopting a PCC approach as part of their professional identity.

Conclusions: PCC access is an important component of patients' health and should be part of the health care approach.

Recommendations: The recommendations focused on promoting stronger service climate in clinics, for example, by creating more opportunities for strengthening relationships and collaborations between physicians, staff, clinic managers, and the regional medical director on professional issues).
Recommendations are also made with respect to service leadership, for example, by means of having the district manager more intensively involved in clinics, as well as reducing clinic overload by enabling short breaks for physicians' in-between patients.

Research end date: 04/2020