Effects of assertive communication between doctors and patients in public health outpatient surgeries in the city of Seville (Spain)

This research investigated the quality of communication between doctors and patients of the Public Health Services in the city of Seville, Spain. Two hundred and twenty-eight doctors were selected at random from all of the cl inics in the city for interviews. The interviews were guided by a specially composed questionnaire, which obtained answers to 30 variables grouped und er four headings: variables which influence doctor-patient communication, i nterest in the consultation, information used in the consultation, and qual ities of doctor-patient communication. Chi-squared tests were carried out o n the different groups, which confirmed the objectives proposed in the inve stigation - among which was the need to set up communications training prog rams for doctors in order to improve their communication skills.