Almost all French people believe that doctors are attentive, empathetic and very human.
92% of French people believe that their doctor is “listening, empathetic, very human”, according to a new BVA survey, commissioned for Health Counterpoints. 63% of respondents also say they are “rather satisfied” with the level of training of doctors in the country, and 49% believe that the practitioner they dealt with during their last consultation was quite competent to treat their symptoms.
More confidence in specialists than in their general practitioner
Nevertheless, patients trust GPs slightly less than other specialists. 56% of respondents who consulted a specialist believe that their practitioner was competent for this, compared to 47% of those who saw a family doctor.
This new survey also indicates what patients mainly expect from doctors, namely first and foremost “medical skills” of course, but also “relationship, listening and empathy” human qualities (60% of patients have already looked for a new doctor after a badly experienced consultation).
The annoying point
Last May, a study already confirmed that the vast majority of French people have a very favorable opinion of their doctors. More than eight out of ten patients said they were satisfied with the quality of care offered by French general practitioners (88%). The same is true for the level of information given by their GP on their state of health (87%) and for the time he gives them when they go to see him (84%).
The annoying point is ultimately more about accessibility to care: 29% of French people think that there are not enough general practitioners near their homes. 47% of French people share this idea about medical specialists. More precisely, according to them, it is first of all the ophthalmologists (for a quarter of the French) and then the general practitioners (for 18%) whose installation near their homes should be encouraged as a priority. Among the 20% of French people who say they lack GPs and specialists, four out of ten want GPs as a priority, and the figures prove them right.
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