Patients’ Perceptions of Medical Encounters in Great Britain: Variations With Health Loci of Control and Sociodemographic Factors

The purpose of this research was to examine how patients’ perceptions of their medical encounters varied by patients’ health loci of control and their sociodemographic characteristics. Each of 68 general practitioners agreed to have between 40 and 60 patients fill out a questionnaire immediately after an encounter. Patients were asked to evaluate how well the doctors accomplished seven consultation tasks; to indicate their internal, fate, and doctor health loci of control; and to provide sociodemographic information. Based on the responses of more than 3,000 patients, we found a pattern of significant results that link patients’ perceptions of the doctors’ information and responsibility sharing with patients’ perceived control, social status, and concern.