Masood Bagheri - Medical Education Research Center, Health Management and Safety Promotion Research Institute, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
mohammad hossein somi - Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
Gholamali Dehghani - Medical Education Research Center, Health Management and Safety Promotion Research Institute, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
Saeideh Ghaffarifar - Research Center for Evidence-Based Medicine, Health Management and Safety Promotion Research Institute, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.

Background: Despite benefits of Patient -Centered Communication (PCC), there are problems in its implementation. Problems are related to characteristics of patients or health system; patterns of patient-physician interaction; or perspectives in defining PCC.  This study reports determinants of PCC from the viewpoint of faculty members, medical residents and interns; and patients and recommends tips for improving Patient-Physician Relationship (PPR). Methods: In this qualitative content analysis study in ۲۰۱۸, in Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, data were gathered using focus groups (۶۲ participants), semi-structured interviews (۳۱ participants) and participatory observations, based on purposive until the saturation was achieved. Content was analyzed through a thematic, manifest summative analysis. Standards for methodological rigor were enhanced through different strategies. Findings: The findings were classified at four categories matched with four core concepts of PCC: ۱- Respect and dignity, ۲- Information sharing, ۳- Participation and ۴- Collaboration. Sub-categories included: recognition of patients’ individuality; attention to patients’ needs; physicians’ personal characteristics; physicians’ communication competencies; patient-focused care; patients’ trust-supported attitude; physicians’ motivation; physicians’ working context; socio-cultural induction; organizational policies; and physicians’ professional responsibility. Conclusion: Based on the findings of this qualitative study,  patient-centered communication can be characterized  by: honoring patients’ individuality ; paying attention to patients’ needs; focusing on physicians’ proper personal characteristics in continuing medical education; enhancing physicians’ communication competencies; institutionalization of patient-focused care; creating trust-supported attitude among patients ;  increasing physicians’ motivation;  regulating physicians’ working context; serious attention to social and cultural inductions; making supportive organizational policies; and evaluating physicians’ professional responsibilities.

Physician-Patient Relations, Patient-Centered Communication, Qualitative Research, Medical