Medical professional dominance and client dissatisfaction : A study of doctor-patient interaction and reported dissatisfaction with medical care among female patients at four hospitals in Trinidad and Tobago

The aims of the study were to evaluate the presence of 'medical professional dominance' displayed by physicians, and to assess the levels of satisfaction with care received, as reported by a simple random sample of 320 patients on obstetric and gynaecology wards at four hospitals in Trinidad and Tobago. Professional Dominance was defined entirely in relation to quality of doctor-patient interaction, while patient satisfaction levels were reported measures. Two methods were used in the study: participant observation techniques were employed to obtain data on doctor-patient interaction, and the survey interview method was used for assessing levels of satisfaction of patients with care received. The results showed disturbingly high levels of both medical professional dominance and patient dissatisfaction. The results of similar studies carried out in the U.S.A. and Britain were used to draw a causative relationship between medical professional dominance and patient dissatisfaction.