Does Physician Denial of Patient Requests Affect Patient Satisfaction?

Many physicians are concerned that denying patients' requests for various services or treatments might lessen patient satisfaction, which can have consequences for physician ratings and income. In this study, investigators examined 1319 visits made by 1141 adults (mean age, 46; 68% women) to 51 physicians in an academic medical center clinic in northern California. Validated questionnaires administered to patients immediately after the visits were used to assess patient requests made to physicians and patient satisfaction with the visits.

Patients reported that they made 1691 requests, and that 1441 (85%) were fulfilled. Most requests were for laboratory tests (34%), referrals (21%), pain medications (20%), and other new medications (nonpain…