Abstract
Background: Trust and expectation are important aspect of doctor patient relationship and its role in patient's satisfaction and medication adherence is unclear. Objective: To study the levels of trust and expectation on psychiatrist and its relationship with patient's satisfaction and treatment adherence. Methods: One hundred and twenty three consecutive outpatients were recruited on follow-up if they satisfied the selection criteria. They were assessed with socio-demographic and clinical proforma designed for this study, Patient Trust Scale, Patient Satisfaction Survey, Patient Expectations Questionnaire and Medication Adherence Rating Scale. Results: There was a high mean score on trust scale (Mean 38.9, SD 8.5) and expectation questionnaire (Mean 13.5, SD 3.3). On Kruskal-Wallis H test significant group differences were observed in nuclear vs joint family type (chi(2) = 18.496, eta(2) = .151, df = 1, Sig. =.000) and knowledge of treatment option (medication only vs medication + psychotherapy) treatment option (chi(2) = 18.100, eta(2) =.148, df = 2, Sig. = .000) and occupational status (employed vs unemployed) (chi(2) = 3.165, eta(2) =. 029, df = 1, Sig. =.056) on the score of PTS. Similar differences were also observed in method of treatment sought before (no treatment vs allopathic) (chi(2) =.065, eta(2) =.065, df = 3, Sig. = .005), knowledge about treatment option (medication only vs medication + psychotherapy) (chi(2) =.026, eta(2) = .161, df = 2, Sig. =.000) and occupation (employed vs unemployed) (chi(2) =.061, eta(2) =.061, df = 1, Sig. = .006) on the score of PEQ. On regression analysis (R-2 = .723, F = 156.46, p = .000) value of the score on patient satisfaction was statistically significant as predicted by score on measure of expectation (beta = -0.095, t = -1.966, p = 0.052) and trust (beta = .842, t = 17.504, p =.000). Discussion: Levels of patients trust and expectation on physician varies with knowledge about treatment option & occupational status, and significantly associated with levels of satisfaction.