UAB Synopsis, Vol. 27, No. 27, July 14, 2008
Most patients want physicians to shake their hands when they first meet, and about half want their first names used in greetings, according to a report in the Archives of Internal Medicine (2007;167:1172-1176). The Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, national survey found that, among patients:
• 78% want physicians to shake their hands, while 18% do not;
• 50% want their first names used during greetings, 17% prefer their last name; and 24% favor both first and last names.
• 56% want physicians to introduce themselves using first and last names, 33% expect physicians to use their last name, and 7% would like physicians to use their first name only.
The authors conclude, “The first few moments of a medical encounter are critical to establishing rapport, making the patient feel comfortable, and setting the tone of the interview. ... Given the diversity of opinion regarding the use of names, coupled with national patient safety recommendations concerning patient identification, we suggest that physicians initially use patients’ first and last names and introduce themselves using their own first and last names.”