We are all ordinary: the shared visual narratives of daily life promote the patients' positive attitudes toward doctors

Abstract

Background: Current research on the doctor-patient relationship primarily focuses on the responsibilities of doctors, with relatively less emphasis on examining the contributions patients can make. As a result, there is an urgent demand for exploring innovative approaches that highlight the active role patients play in cultivating a robust doctor-patient relationship. The purpose of this study was to devise an intervention strategy centered around patients to enhance the doctor-patient relationship. Comics were developed to depict shared narratives encompassing challenging daily life experiences between doctors and ordinary individuals. The study aimed to assess the efficacy of this approach in cultivating positive attitudes toward doctors.

Method: A 3-group design trial was conducted in Shanghai, China. A total of 152 participants were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: the parallel presenting group (n = 51), where narratives about a doctor and an ordinary employee were presented side by side in comics; the single presenting group (n = 50), where only narratives about a doctor were presented; and the control group (n = 51). The outcomes assessed in this study encompassed changes in identification with the doctor portrayed in the comics, perceived intimacy between doctors and patients in reality, and appraisal of the doctor in a prepared doctor-patient interaction situation.

Results: The parallel presenting group exhibited significantly larger increases in identification with the doctor portrayed in the comics, perceived intimacy between doctors and patients in reality, and appraisal of the doctor in a prepared doctor-patient interaction scenario compared to the single presenting group. The observed enhancements in the appraisal of the doctor in a prepared doctor-patient interaction scenario can be attributed to the changes in identification with the doctor portrayed in the comics experienced by the participants.

Conclusion: Our study responds to the doctor-centric focus in existing research by exploring patients' contributions to the doctor-patient relationship. Using comics to depict shared narratives, the parallel presenting group demonstrated significantly increased identification with the depicted doctor, perceived intimacy, and positive appraisal in prepared scenarios compared to the single presenting group. This underscores the effectiveness of patient-centered interventions in shaping positive attitudes toward doctors, highlighting the pivotal role patients play in fostering a resilient doctor-patient relationship.

Trial registration: Chinese Clinical Trail Registry: ChiCTR2400080999 (registered 20 February 2024; retrospectively registered).

Keywords: Common ingroup identity model; Doctor-patient relationship; Identification; Visual narratives.

Fig. 1

The example comics of the parallel presenting group

Fig. 2

The modified version of the Inclusion of Other in the Self Scale

Fig. 3

The doctor-patient interaction situation. At ten o’clock in the middle of the night, Mr. Zhang suddenly felt pain in his eyes, and also kept running tears. In an emergency, he had to go to the local general hospital to see the emergency room. The emergency room was crowded, and Mr. Zhang waited in line for a while before his turn came. He had the following conversation with the doctor

Fig. 4

Flow Diagram of Participation and Data Collection

Fig. 5

Differences in identification, perceived intimacy, and appraisal of the doctor between or among the groups

Fig. 6

Mediation model of changes in identification mediated changes in appraisal of the doctor