Hypochondriacal attitudes and beliefs, attitudes towards complementary and alternative medicine and modern health worries predict patient satisfaction

OBJECTIVE To investigate how hypochondriacal attitudes and beliefs, attitudes towards complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and modern health worries (MHWs) related to patient satisfaction with their general practitioner. DESIGN Participants completed a five-part questionnaire anonymously which measured satisfaction with one's doctor, hypochondriacal beliefs, attitudes to CAM, MHWs and personality. SETTING England. PARTICIPANTS Included 215 adults from a variety of cultural backgrounds. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE The Illness Attitudes Scales measuring the attitudes, fears and beliefs associated with hypochondriasis; Worry about Illness; Concerns about Pain, Health Habits, Hypochondriacal beliefs; Thanatophobia, Disease phobia, Bodily preoccupations; Treatment experience and Effects of symptoms. RESULTS Correlations (around r = .10 to .25) and Regressions (R square from .06 to .09) showed demographic and personality variables only modestly related to patient satisfaction. Hypochondriasis, CAM and MHWs were associated with greater patient dissatisfaction as predicted with the former as the most powerful correlate. CONCLUSION The study indicates the different needs of potential patients in a typical medical consultation. It is important to ascertain patients' health beliefs and practices with regard to medical history, attitudes to CAM and MHWs to increase consultation satisfaction.