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The power of the pen: how to make physicians more friendly and patients more attractive.

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Title: The power of the pen: how to make physicians more friendly and patients more attractive.
Authors: Epstein, Nurith, Brendel, Thomas, Hege, Inga, Ouellette, Diana L, Schmidmaier, Ralf, Kiesewetter, Jan
Source: Medical Education. Dec2016, Vol. 50 Issue 12, p1214-1218. 5p.
Subjects: Facial expression, Physician-patient relations, Wit & humor
Abstract: Context Studies have shown that patients' subjective perceptions of physicians' competence and friendliness are relevant aspects of a successful treatment, influencing patients' well-being and trust in the physician. Psychological research has repeatedly shown that unconsciously contracting muscles that are usually used to smile can intensify and even elicit positive feelings (known as facial feedback). Empirical evidence also suggests that a smiling person is favourably judged by others with respect to attractiveness and trustworthiness. Aim This study's purpose was to investigate how an induced muscle contraction, similar to that of a smile, affects physicians' interactions with a standardised patient. It was expected that the 'smile intervention' would affect physicians' and patients' perceptions, resulting in higher ratings of the friendliness and attractiveness of physicians in the intervention group. Methods Twenty physicians participated in the randomised controlled study (10 male, 10 female). Physicians were randomly assigned to one of two conditions: an intervention group (performing an easy cognitive task while smiling; n = 11) or a control group (performing an easy cognitive task without smiling; n = 9). Afterwards, physicians had a 5-minute consultation with a standardised patient. This consultation was subsequently rated by physicians, the patient and an external rater using 10-point Likert scales. Results Physicians in the intervention group were rated as significantly friendlier by the external rater (mean 7.81 versus 7.11; p = 0.097, η2 = 0.15). In addition, physicians in the intervention group rated the patient as significantly more attractive (mean 6.91 versus 4.78; p = 0.017; η2 = 0.28). Conclusions Our results suggest that physicians can influence their friendliness and their perception of patients' attractiveness. Thereby the 'power of pen' can be an efficient method for making the hospital a friendlier place. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Medical Education is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
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  Data: The power of the pen: how to make physicians more friendly and patients more attractive.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Medical+Education%22">Medical Education</searchLink>. Dec2016, Vol. 50 Issue 12, p1214-1218. 5p.
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  Data: Context Studies have shown that patients' subjective perceptions of physicians' competence and friendliness are relevant aspects of a successful treatment, influencing patients' well-being and trust in the physician. Psychological research has repeatedly shown that unconsciously contracting muscles that are usually used to smile can intensify and even elicit positive feelings (known as facial feedback). Empirical evidence also suggests that a smiling person is favourably judged by others with respect to attractiveness and trustworthiness. Aim This study's purpose was to investigate how an induced muscle contraction, similar to that of a smile, affects physicians' interactions with a standardised patient. It was expected that the 'smile intervention' would affect physicians' and patients' perceptions, resulting in higher ratings of the friendliness and attractiveness of physicians in the intervention group. Methods Twenty physicians participated in the randomised controlled study (10 male, 10 female). Physicians were randomly assigned to one of two conditions: an intervention group (performing an easy cognitive task while smiling; n = 11) or a control group (performing an easy cognitive task without smiling; n = 9). Afterwards, physicians had a 5-minute consultation with a standardised patient. This consultation was subsequently rated by physicians, the patient and an external rater using 10-point Likert scales. Results Physicians in the intervention group were rated as significantly friendlier by the external rater (mean 7.81 versus 7.11; p = 0.097, η2 = 0.15). In addition, physicians in the intervention group rated the patient as significantly more attractive (mean 6.91 versus 4.78; p = 0.017; η2 = 0.28). Conclusions Our results suggest that physicians can influence their friendliness and their perception of patients' attractiveness. Thereby the 'power of pen' can be an efficient method for making the hospital a friendlier place. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Medical Education is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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              Text: Dec2016
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