The role of psychological traumatization on the physician-patient relationship in Gynecological outpatients

Abstract

Psychological traumatization represents a challenge for both patients and clinicians, due to negatively affecting the physician-patient relationship. This study aimed to investigate (i) the influence of early and/or current psychological traumatization on the physician-patient relationship and (ii) whether trauma-specific and/or psychosomatic training of gynecologists improves the physician-patient relationship. 200 gynecological outpatients of a tertiary hospital participated in the study. Prior to their routine gynecological visit, patients completed two validated questionnaires to assess early (CTQ) and current psychological traumatization (IES-R). After their visit, patients assessed the quality of the physician-patient relationship using the validated PRA-D questionnaire. 23 (11.5%) of patients experienced early psychological traumatization (CTQ), whereas 13 (6.5%) experienced current psychological traumatization (IES-R). The mean score of the overall physician-patient relationship (PRA-D) was 98.63 (SD = 7.35; range 15–105). The physician-patient relationship did not differ between patients with vs. without early and/or current psychological traumatization (CTQ: z = − 0.111, p = .456; IES-R: z = − 0.720, p = .235; CTQ/IES-R: z = − 0.708; p = .240). Before adjustment, patients rated their physician-patient relationship significantly higher when their gynecologists underwent both prior trauma-specific and psychosomatic training vs. no prior training (z = − 2.088; p = .037; p adj. = 0.221). Overall, patients’ assessment of the physician-patient relationship was high with no difference between both groups, psychologically traumatized and non-traumatized patients. Combined prior trauma-specific and psychosomatic training in gynecologists may result in a better physician-patient relationship, highlighting the importance of both training programs.