View in EDS

Ranking patients' non-clinical preferences in referring to specialist physicians in the private sector: a cross-sectional study.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Ranking patients' non-clinical preferences in referring to specialist physicians in the private sector: a cross-sectional study.
Authors: Setoodefar M; Department of Computer Sciences, Faculty of Engineering, Khayyam University, Mashhad, Iran., Tabesh H; Department of Medical Informatics, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran., Etminani K; Center for Applied Intelligent Systems Research, Halmstad University, Halmstad, Sweden., Mazaheri Habibi MR; Department of Health Information Technology, Varastegan Institute for Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran., Dabir Z; Department of Health Information Technology, Varastegan Institute for Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran., Fatemi Aghda SA; Fakher Mechatronic Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran. afatamy@gmail.com.; Student Research and Technology Committee, School of Health Management and Information Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. afatamy@gmail.com.; Research Center for Health Technology Assessment and Medical Informatics, School of Public Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran. afatamy@gmail.com.
Source: BMC health services research [BMC Health Serv Res] 2025 Nov 25; Vol. 25 (1), pp. 1519. Date of Electronic Publication: 2025 Nov 25.
Publication Type: Journal Article
Language: English
Journal Info: Publisher: BioMed Central Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 101088677 Publication Model: Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1472-6963 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 14726963 NLM ISO Abbreviation: BMC Health Serv Res Subsets: MEDLINE
Imprint Name(s): Original Publication: London : BioMed Central, [2001-
MeSH Terms: Private Sector* , Patient Preference*/statistics & numerical data , Referral and Consultation* , Gynecology* , Obstetrics*, Humans ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Adult ; Iran ; Middle Aged ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Physician-Patient Relations ; Patient-Centered Care ; Young Adult
Abstract: Competing Interests: Declaration. Ethics approval and consent to participate: All methods were carried out in accordance with relevant guidelines and regulations. This study was reviewed and approved by the review board and the ethics committee of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences (IR.MUMS.fm.REC.1396.253). Verbal informed consent was obtained from all participants, including illiterate individuals, for whom the consent was read aloud in the presence of an impartial witness. The study did not involve any participants under the age of 18, and all methods were conducted in accordance with relevant guidelines and regulations, including the Declaration of Helsinki. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.
Background: Understanding non-clinical factors that influence how women choose obstetricians and gynecologists (OB/GYNs) is essential for delivering patient-centered care. This study aimed to identify and rank the non-clinical preferences when selecting OB/GYN specialists in the private healthcare sector in Mashhad, Iran.
Methods: This cross-sectional study, conducted from January to February 2018, 462 patients completed a validated 45-item questionnaire (CVI = 0.80, Cronbach's alpha = 0.88) assessing their non-clinical preferences. Preferences were rated on a 5-point scale and ranked using Friedman's test. Associations between demographic factors and preferences were analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis test and ordinal logistic regression.
Results: The highest-rated criteria included physicians' attentiveness and respect for patients, respectful staff behavior, short waiting times, and ensuring privacy during examinations. The latest important criteria were physician age, university affiliation, and office proximity to patient's home. Education level, pregnancy experience, and number of prior OB/GYN visits were significantly associated with certain preferences. Multivariate regression revealed that higher education and more prior OB/GYN visits independently predicted greater importance placed on short waiting time and respectful staff behavior.
Conclusion: Beyond clinical competence, non-clinical factors-particularly those related to interpersonal behavior, communication, and privacy-are central to patient-centered care in OB/GYN settings. Recognizing and integrating these preferences into service delivery can strengthen trust, enhance satisfaction, and support ethical, patient-centered care in the private healthcare sector.
(© 2025. The Author(s).)
References: World J Surg. 2016 Jan;40(1):45-55. (PMID: 26362880)
Jpn J Clin Oncol. 2017 Aug 01;47(8):713-719. (PMID: 28505271)
Health Care Women Int. 2017 Nov;38(11):1234-1246. (PMID: 28825522)
Geospat Health. 2017 Nov 07;12(2):584. (PMID: 29239556)
BMC Health Serv Res. 2022 Feb 14;22(1):199. (PMID: 35164761)
J Med Internet Res. 2013 Feb 01;15(2):e24. (PMID: 23372115)
J Med Internet Res. 2015 Jan 12;17(1):e15. (PMID: 25582914)
J Dtsch Dermatol Ges. 2017 Apr;15(4):430-438. (PMID: 28314064)
J Immigr Minor Health. 2018 Feb;20(1):51-58. (PMID: 27796701)
J Health Serv Res Policy. 2011 Apr;16 Suppl 1:22-8. (PMID: 21460346)
J Adv Pharm Technol Res. 2018 Apr-Jun;9(2):51-55. (PMID: 30131937)
Health Educ Behav. 2015 Apr;42(2):210-9. (PMID: 25156313)
BMC Health Serv Res. 2022 May 9;22(1):619. (PMID: 35534875)
Adv Health Sci Educ Theory Pract. 2010 Dec;15(5):625-32. (PMID: 20146096)
J Gen Intern Med. 2002 Jan;17(1):29-39. (PMID: 11903773)
Surg Innov. 2005 Dec;12(4):357-63. (PMID: 16424958)
JMIR Mhealth Uhealth. 2015 Jun 05;3(2):e65. (PMID: 26048441)
Int J Community Based Nurs Midwifery. 2020 Apr;8(2):150-163. (PMID: 32309456)
BMC Prim Care. 2022 Apr 7;23(1):72. (PMID: 35392824)
J Am Osteopath Assoc. 2005 Aug;105(8):369-79. (PMID: 16166391)
PLoS Med. 2016 Apr 19;13(4):e1002000. (PMID: 27093698)
Obstet Gynecol. 2015 Nov;126(5):969-973. (PMID: 26444117)
BMC Med Inform Decis Mak. 2015 Aug 05;15:63. (PMID: 26242399)
PLoS One. 2018 Jan 2;13(1):e0190472. (PMID: 29293614)
Isr J Health Policy Res. 2016 Dec 1;5:35. (PMID: 27980717)
Womens Health Issues. 2018 May - Jun;28(3):281-285. (PMID: 29429946)
J Renal Inj Prev. 2016 Nov 20;6(2):83-87. (PMID: 28497080)
HERD. 2022 Oct;15(4):41-62. (PMID: 35726212)
Isr J Health Policy Res. 2015 Jun 01;4:13. (PMID: 26034576)
J Telemed Telecare. 2017 Sep;23(8):693-700. (PMID: 27632990)
Contributed Indexing: Keywords: Gynecology; Obstetrics; Patient preference; Patient-centered care; Private healthcare; Specialist physicians
Entry Date(s): Date Created: 20251126 Date Completed: 20251126 Latest Revision: 20251129
Update Code: 20251129
PubMed Central ID: PMC12645761
DOI: 10.1186/s12913-025-13643-3
PMID: 41291705
Database: MEDLINE
Description
Abstract:Competing Interests: Declaration. Ethics approval and consent to participate: All methods were carried out in accordance with relevant guidelines and regulations. This study was reviewed and approved by the review board and the ethics committee of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences (IR.MUMS.fm.REC.1396.253). Verbal informed consent was obtained from all participants, including illiterate individuals, for whom the consent was read aloud in the presence of an impartial witness. The study did not involve any participants under the age of 18, and all methods were conducted in accordance with relevant guidelines and regulations, including the Declaration of Helsinki. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.<br />Background: Understanding non-clinical factors that influence how women choose obstetricians and gynecologists (OB/GYNs) is essential for delivering patient-centered care. This study aimed to identify and rank the non-clinical preferences when selecting OB/GYN specialists in the private healthcare sector in Mashhad, Iran.<br />Methods: This cross-sectional study, conducted from January to February 2018, 462 patients completed a validated 45-item questionnaire (CVI = 0.80, Cronbach's alpha = 0.88) assessing their non-clinical preferences. Preferences were rated on a 5-point scale and ranked using Friedman's test. Associations between demographic factors and preferences were analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis test and ordinal logistic regression.<br />Results: The highest-rated criteria included physicians' attentiveness and respect for patients, respectful staff behavior, short waiting times, and ensuring privacy during examinations. The latest important criteria were physician age, university affiliation, and office proximity to patient's home. Education level, pregnancy experience, and number of prior OB/GYN visits were significantly associated with certain preferences. Multivariate regression revealed that higher education and more prior OB/GYN visits independently predicted greater importance placed on short waiting time and respectful staff behavior.<br />Conclusion: Beyond clinical competence, non-clinical factors-particularly those related to interpersonal behavior, communication, and privacy-are central to patient-centered care in OB/GYN settings. Recognizing and integrating these preferences into service delivery can strengthen trust, enhance satisfaction, and support ethical, patient-centered care in the private healthcare sector.<br /> (© 2025. The Author(s).)
ISSN:1472-6963
DOI:10.1186/s12913-025-13643-3