JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Effective physician-patient communication is essential for building trust and sustaining positive relationships, yet becomes increasingly challenging in China’s tertiary hospitals where physicians face heavy workloads.

Objective:

This study aimed to explore key barriers and facilitators of Physician-Patient Communication by synthesizing perspectives from frontline physicians and physician-patient relations coordinators.

Methods:

A qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with 17 participants from tertiary hospitals was conducted (April-July 2025), analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s framework.

Results:

Barriers to effective physician-patient communication were identified in three domains: patient-related factors (individual background differences, inadequate expression and health literacy, psychological and emotional states, digitally influenced expectations), physician-related factors (insufficient competency, imbalance between professionalism and empathy, time pressure), and system-environmental factors (hospital environment, inadequate training, healthcare system deficiencies, media influence, digital technology integration challenges). Facilitators included patient characteristics (effective expectation management, strong communication skills, personal health responsibility, trust and shared decision-making), physician communication strategies (active listening, empathy, clear explanations, transparency, cultural adaptability), and organizational support (institutional assurance, process optimization, patient education, multi-departmental coordination, training and policy promotion). Digital-age challenges, notably AI-driven expectations and social media misinformation, were reported to exacerbate communication difficulties, while organizational support and patient education were highlighted as overlooked but critical levers for improvement.

Conclusions:

Patient-physician communication is influenced by multiple factors, necessitating comprehensive intervention measures: enhancing patient education, improving physician communication skills, and strengthening organizational support systems. Notably, special attention should be directed toward addressing the unique challenges posed by digital technologies while concurrently leveraging the opportunities they present to optimize communication outcomes. Clinical Trial: Not applicable. This study did not involve any clinical interventions and therefore was not required to be registered as a clinical trial.