Ahmad Tahmasebi Ghorrabi - MSc, Student Research Committee, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
Omid Tabeh - BSc Student, Student Research Committee, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
Mohammad Hossein Haghighizadeh - Instructor, Department of Statistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
Mohadeseh Rezaei - BSc Student, Student Research Committee, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
Amin Torabipour - Associate Professor, Department of Health Services Management, School of Public Health, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran

Background: Good patient-physician relationship is a factor that can enhance the efficiency of medical services. This study aimed to investigate the patient-physician relationship in specialized outpatient clinics affiliated with Ahvaz University of Medical Sciences. Methods: This descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study was performed on ۲۷۵ patients who visited specialized outpatient clinics of Ahvaz University of Medical Sciences in ۲۰۱۹. The data in this study were collected using the Patient-Doctor Relationship Questionnaire (PDRQ-۹). Data were analyzed using SPSS۲۲ software with the Pearson correlation coefficient and independent samples t-test. Results: The patients’ satisfaction with their relationship with the physician was reported to be moderate (۳۳.۹۲±۶.۸۰ out of ۴۵). The highest score (۴.۱۳±۰.۸۳ out of ۵) was related to the item “I trust my doctor” and the lowest score (۲.۸۴±۱.۱۶ out of ۵) was related to the item “I find my doctor easily accessible”. There was a significant and negative relation between the patients’ satisfaction with the relationship with the physician and wait time and a significant and positive relation with the duration of the visit. The mean visit and the mean wait time were ۱۳.۷±۱۱.۱ and ۹۰±۵۷.۸ minutes, respectively. Besides, the patients’ satisfaction with communication with physicians had a significant relation with the type of clinic (P = ۰.۰۳۲). Conclusion: To improve the patient-physician relationship, it is essential to take some management measures to reduce patients’ wait time, comply with standard visit time, improve environmental conditions, and empower physicians to enhance communication skills.

Physician communication skills, Communication with patient, Patient Satisfaction