Exploring the Relationship Between Pediatrician Self-Disclosure and Parent Satisfaction

Abstract

Patient satisfaction is a frequently explored outcome in physician–patient communication research. One variable that may influence patient satisfaction, but that has not been extensively explored, is physician self-disclosure (SD). This study examined the effect of pediatrician SD on parent satisfaction in the context of a “sick child” office visit. Results showed that parents were more satisfied with visits in which pediatricians self-disclosed than with those in which pediatricians did not self-disclose. Implications of the study's results and directions for future research are discussed.