The Influence of Patient Recognition of Resident Name on Patient Perception of Resident Empathy and Satisfaction in an Emergent Care Setting
Abstract
Learning Objectives: Resident education on advocating patient recognition of healthcare providers as part of patient-centered care might need to be emphasized.
Background: We recommend providers introducing their names when communicating with the patients but are uncertain whether patient recognition of provider name would affect patient perception of physician empathy and satisfaction. This is challenging when multiple providers (e.g., attending and residents) take care of the same patient.
Objectives: We aim to determine 1) the status of patient recognition of residents’ names; and 2) whether such recognition would affect the patient perception of resident empathy and satisfaction.
Methods: This is a prospective single-center observational study. Patient perception of resident empathy was measured by the Jefferson Scale of Patient Perception of Physician Empathy (JSPPPE). Patient satisfaction was measured by a real-time satisfaction survey. Multivariate logistic regressions were performed to determine the association between patent recognition of residents’ names, patient satisfaction, and JSPPPE after demographics and resident training years were adjusted.
Results: We enrolled 33 Emergency Medicine residents and 206 patients. Only 25% of patients recognized the residents’ names. High JSPPE scores were given in 47% of patients who recognized residents’ names in comparison to 27% of ones who did not remember residents’ names (p=0.008). High patient satisfaction scores were recorded in 84% of patients recognized residents’ names compared to 63% of ones who did not (p=0.007). The adjusted odds ratios of patient recognition of residents’ names to high JSPPPE and high satisfaction scores were 2.40 (95% CI 1.22-4.73, p=0.012) and 3.10 (1.33-7.25, p=0.009) separately.
Conclusion: Patient recognition of residents’ names is relatively low. However, patients’ recognition of residents’ names increased the odds of patient perception of residents’ empathy and satisfaction. Therefore, future resident education on advocating patient recognition of healthcare providers as part of patient-centered care might need to be emphasized.