Measuring the preference towards patient-centred communication with the Chinese-revised Patient–Practitioner Orientation Scale: a cross-sectional study among physicians and patients in clinical settings in Shanghai, China

Abstract

ObjectivesTo adapt the Patient–Practitioner Orientation Scale (PPOS), to a Chinese context, and explore the preference towards patient-centred communication among physicians and patients with the Chinese-revised Patient–Practitioner Orientation Scale (CR-PPOS).DesignA cross-sectional questionnaire-based study.SettingClinical settings from eight medical units, including four community hospitals and four general hospitals, in Shanghai, China.Participants1018 participants, including 187 physicians and 831 patients, completed this study in two successive stages.Outcome measurementsPsychometric properties of the CR-PPOS and participants’ score on the CR-PPOS.ResultsCompared with the original PPOS, the 11-item CR-PPOS obtained better psychometric indices. Physicians and patients scored differently on both the total CR-PPOS and its two subscales. Compared with physicians, the scores of patients were more influenced by their personal characteristics, such as age and education.ConclusionsThe CR-PPOS is a better instrument in a Chinese context than the original translated version. The divergence in the extent to which patient-centred communication is preferred among Chinese physicians and patients should be noted. Adapting physicians’ communication strategy to patients’ preferences based on their personal characteristics can be a viable approach towards improving clinical efficiency.