Patient, client or service user? A survey of patient preferences of dress and address of six mental health professions

McGuire-Snieckus, R, McCabe, R and Priebe, S (2003) 'Patient, client or service user? A survey of patient preferences of dress and address of six mental health professions.' Psychiatric Bulletin, 27 (8). pp. 305-308.

Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1192/pb.27.8.305

Abstract

Aims and Method:- A positive therapeutic relationship is essential to psychiatry and should take into account patients' preferences. Preferences of 133 community care patients were surveyed regarding dress and forms of address of six professions. Participants' sex, age, ethnicity and diagnosis were recorded. Results:- Ninety-eight per cent of participants expressed a preference. While most preferred to be called ‘patients' by general practitioners (75%) and psychiatrists (67%), there was no statistically significant difference in preference for the term ‘patient’ or ‘client’ when used by community psychiatric nurses, occupational therapists, psychologists or social workers. Participants over the age of 40 preferred the term ‘client’. Asymmetrical relationships were preferred with general practitioners and psychiatrists, evidenced by a preference to be addressed by first name (71% and 68%, respectively), to address the professional by title (81% and 80%, respectively), and the professional to be ‘smartly’ dressed (67% and 66%, respectively). Clinical Implications:- A more differentiated approach may be suggested by taking professional background and some demographic characteristics into consideration.

Item Type: Article
Subjects: R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC0321 Neuroscience. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry
Divisions: School of Sciences
Date Deposited: 02 Sep 2014 16:27
Last Modified: 27 Oct 2023 13:07
ISSN: 2053-4868
URI / Page ID: https://researchspace.bathspa.ac.uk/id/eprint/4162
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