Investigation into The Forms of Doctor-Patient Relationship in Some Selected Specialist Hospitals in Yobe State, Nigeria

Abstract

This research work intends to examine the forms of Doctor-Patient relationships in some newly upgraded
specialist hospitals in Yobe State, Nigeria. A Quantitative approach was adopted in the study. The
population of the study is specialists and patients of Specialist Hospital Damaturu, Specialist Hospital
Geidam, Specialist Hospital Potiskum, and Specialist Hospital Gashua all in Yobe State, Nigeria.
Furthermore, Krejcie and Morgan`s (1970) sampling design for sampling size was adopted which is
administered by a published sample size table used in getting the actual sample of the study, and also
stratified sampling method was employed in getting the respondents. The major instrument for data
collection in this research work is a questionnaire because it is the most popular used in social sciences
(Dillma, 2000). Both descriptive and inferential statistics were employed in the data analysis. The
findings of this study would be useful to the government, social workers, researchers, NGOs,
educationists, policymakers, etc who will use it for policy formulation on how to improve doctor-patient
relationships in our health institutions at primary, secondary, and tertiary levels. They revealed these
findings and among others that there are many forms of Doctor-Patient relationships (Mutual
Participation Type, Guidance-Cooperation Type, and Active-Passive Type) that are prevalent in the
newly upgraded Specialist Hospitals in Yobe State. But the one that is more popular and acceptable is the
Mutual Participation Type. The study recommends that both the doctors and the patients are advised to
choose the most appropriate form of Doctor-patient relationship that is prevalent in the hospitals for
betterment and this is the Mutual Participation Type of relationship, also a suitable form of relationship
that enhances the Doctor-patient relationship that is prevalent in the newly upgraded specialist hospitals
in Yobe State among others.