The effects of perceived physician competence on patients' symptom disclosure to male and female physicans

Abstract

One hundred and ninety-two subjects (128 male and 64 female) rated their willingness to disclose symptoms of a personal nature, general nature, and mental illness nature to a male or female physician who had been described as being either high or low in technical competence and either high or low in social competence or "beside manner." In addition, subjects were given a photograph of the physician which had been pretested for either high or low physical attractiveness. Increased willingness to disclose all types of symptoms was related to (a) perceived high technical competence, (b) high social competence, and (c)male patients. Neither the sex of the physician nor the physical attractiveness of the physician influenced symptom disclosure. Implications are drawn concerning physician-patient diagnostic effectiveness and the management of unfavorable first impressions through patient training.