A study of humanism in family physicians

Abstract

The purposes of this study were to examine humanism as exhibited in physicians and to develop and standardize an instrument measuring humanism in physicians. This study had four specific objectives: (1) to determine whether family practice residents are more humanistic than internal medicine and surgery residents, (2) to determine whether there is a difference in the level of humanism in residents in different years of training, (3) to determine the relationship of demographic characteristics to level of humanism, and (4) to determine the relationship of family practice residency characteristics to level of humanism. The Physician Humanism Scale was developed, pretested, modified, and then administered to a sample (600) of family practice, internal medicine, and surgery residents. The study identified that family practice residents are significantly more humanistic than internal medicine and surgery residents, although no difference in level of humanism was identified according to year in residency. Significant relationships were identified between humanism and sex, race, age, marital status, and college major. Residency characteristics significantly related to humanism were numbers of residents, full-time faculty, nonphysician faculty, and associated residencies; hospital size; and moonlighting policy.