PROVISION OF INFORMATION TO PATIENTS: KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDES OF DOCTORS IN CÔTE D’IVOIRE

Abstract

Objective: To describe the knowledge that determines the
attitudes of physicians in order to help them better
inform their patients. Materials and methods: This was a descriptive survey
conducted from 1 March 2016 to 30 June 2016 at
Bouaké University Hospital (Côte d’Ivoire) and involving 71 doctors.
Results: The majority of physicians surveyed were male
(82%) with a sex ratio of 4.5 and had less than 5 years
of seniority in the practice of their profession (67.6%).
Most of them (81.7%) informed patients prior to any
medical procedure to improve the effectiveness of care
(76.1%), and this information included treatment
(83.1%), the consequences in the absence of care
(77.5%) and the diagnosis (70.4%). They took the time
to listen to patients and respond to their concerns (79%)
and took their opinions into account before starting
treatment (87.3%). This information was delivered in
simpler terms (59.2%), without hiding the seriousness
(42.3%) and in a mostly complete way (32.4%),
notably in case of serious illness, but the language barrier constituted an obstacle to the provision of information
for 97.2% of physicians, 88.4% of whom had recourse
to an interpreter. According to 97.2% of physicians,
patients were satisfied with the information they provided and used other sources of information to verify information provided by the physician (43.7%).
Conclusion: The implementation of a law on patients’
rights concerning information and recommendations for
doctors concerning information will improve the delivery
of information to patients in Côte d’Ivoire.