ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Burn is an unusual medical situation with limited information open to common people. This study was designed to evaluate the communication gap and different understandings between doctor and patient about burn treatment and to improve quality of the treatment. METHODS: Cross-sectional studies were done with interview and questionnaire. 25 doctors and nurses of burn ward and 50 burn patients in Han-gang Sacred Heart Hospital Burn Center were participated. To understand the communication gap and different perception between doctors' and patients' on 1) burn sequela and recovery, 2) disease course and prognosis, 3) healing environment, cost, hospitalization, 4) nurse-physician collaboration, 5) psychiatric consultation, 6) extra incentive were analyzed. RESULTS: Patients tend to expectation positive answer about their prognosis from their physician but they have recognized chronic and negative prognosis of burn treatment. Patients want to know clear and detailed explanation about their test result or treatment methods. Physicians thought that it is important to consider patients' economic status and provide different treatment principle. Short duration of hospitalization is not related to the anxiety of rehabilitation. Patients thought that nurses could manage superficial or repeated treatment. It is more likely that physicians warn the disadvantages of psychiatric consultation than patients. Both groups thought that extra incentive or gratitude money is not helpful for the doctor patient relationship. CONCLUSION: Given the discrepant views of physicians and patients on the burn treatment, physician should be aware of the discrepancies and attempts to resolve any differences.