The effect of doctor-patient relationship on doctor’s altruistic purpose from pediatrician data in China

This study aims to explore the potential mechanisms underlying the influence of doctor-patient relationship on pediatricians’ altruistic purpose. We hypothesized and tested the mediating effect of turnover intention and the moderating effects of harmonious and obsessive passion respectively.

Data for this study came from surveys of 1,361 pediatricians in China. The study utilized mediation regression analysis to investigate the effect of doctor-patient relationship on pediatricians’ altruistic purpose.

The results indicated that the quality of doctor-patient relationship had a positive predictive effect on the altruistic purpose of pediatricians. Furthermore, turnover intention played a significant mediating role between doctor-patient relationship and pediatricians’ altruistic purpose. The results also indicated that harmonious passion negatively moderated the effect of turnover intention on pediatricians’ altruistic purpose; in comparison, obsessive passion did not play a significant moderating role.

This study’s results can inform interventions for improving the quality of medical services, especially for addressing safety issues related to outgoing pediatricians’ work handover.