



































Evaluation of communication between physicians and patients in Astana City Hospital №1


 

 

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of its D-Scribe Digital Publishing Program and is cosponsored by the University of Pittsburgh Press. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

Evaluation of communication 

between physicians and patients 

in Astana City Hospital №1. 

 

Anara Zhumadilova1, Brett J. 

Craig1, Alexey Tsoy2, Alla 

Gabdrakhmanova2, Martin Bobak3 

 
1School of Science and Technology, 

Nazarbayev University, Astana, 

Kazakhstan; 2Astana City Hospital #1, 

Astana, Kazakhstan; 3University College 

London, London, United Kingdom 

 

 

Vol. 2, Suppl. (2013)   |   ISSN 2166-7403 (online)    

DOI 10.5195/cajgh.2013.82   |   http://cajgh.pitt.edu 

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ZHUMADILOVA 

 

 

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 United States License. 

 

This journal is published by the University Library System of the University of Pittsburgh as part  

of its D-Scribe Digital Publishing Program and is cosponsored by the University of Pittsburgh Press. 

 

Central Asian Journal of Global Health 

Volume 2, Suppl. (2013)  |  ISSN 2166-7403 (online)  |  DOI 10.5195/cajgh.2013.82  |  http://cajgh.pitt.edu 

  

 

Abstract 

Introduction: Communication between patients and health care providers is important for the effective functioning of health care 

systems. Miscommunication often stems from discrepancies in expectations of both healthcare professionals and patients due to 

cultural and historical influences. We investigated the degree to which health care providers (doctors and nurses) and patients in 

Kazakhstan believe that interaction between doctors and patients should be doctor- or patient-oriented. 

  

Material and methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 163 patients and 176 health care providers (71 doctors and 105 

nurses) in a general hospital in Astana, Kazakhstan. The subjects completed a structured questionnaire containing the Patient-

Practitioner Orientation Scale (PPOS), and scales assessing life and job satisfaction, effort-reward balance of healthcare 

professionals, and the patients’ perceptions of communication practices. 

 

Results: An overwhelming majority of doctors (81.7%), nurses (88.1%), and patients (92.3%) were doctor-oriented. Among 

health care providers, PPOS was not associated with age, sex, life and job satisfaction, or effort-reward imbalance. Among 

patients, PPOS was not associated with age, sex, or specialty of health care provider. However, higher PPOS among patients 

(indicating preference for patient-oriented interaction) was associated with higher satisfaction with communication with health 

care providers and, less strongly, with their life satisfaction. 

 

Conclusion: The main finding of this study is the very small proportion of doctors, nurses and patients who believe that 

interaction should be patient-oriented. These results highlight the necessity of improvement of communication among health care 

providers towards patient-oriented approach in order to decrease miscommunication with patients. The fact that most patients 

prefer doctor-oriented interaction may reflect historical stereotypes; educational/information interventions among patients may 

also be needed.  

Keywords: doctor-patient interaction, communciation, PPOS

 

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