Modelling the Associations Between the Physician–Patient Relationship and Patient Outcomes via Self-Determination Theory Variables in Chronic Disease Management
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Moffitt, Robyn L
Sheeran, Nicola
Loxton, Natalie
Jones, Liz
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Abstract
Background: The aim of this study was to model the associations between the physician–patient relationship and patient outcomes, considering the mediating role of Self-Determination Theory variables. Method: The current study comprised a sample (N = 226) of Australians with a diagnosed chronic health condition. Path analysis via structural equation modelling was used to model the relationships between patients’ self-reported perception of the physician–patient relationship, motivation (autonomous and controlled), basic psychological needs (satisfaction and frustration), and patient outcomes (treatment adherence, mental health, and physical health). Results: Stronger physician–patient relationships indirectly predicted better physical and mental health, as well as greater adherence to treatment. This occurred through serial mediation, whereby stronger physician–patient relationships directly predicted need satisfaction, which in turn predicted autonomous motivation. Conversely, weaker physician–patient relationships indirectly predicted poorer mental health and lower adherence to treatment. This occurred through serial mediation where weaker physician–patient relationships predicted need frustration, which in turn predicted controlled motivation. Weaker physician–patient relationships also directly predicted controlled motivation. Conclusion: Satisfaction of basic psychological needs plays an important role in predicting patient motivation and outcomes. The current findings provide evidence that the physician–patient relationship plays a direct role in facilitating satisfaction and frustration of psychological needs, as well as patient motivation. Attention should be placed on interventions aimed at improving the physician–patient relationship as a means through which to increase need satisfaction, autonomous motivation, and, consequently, patient adherence and outcomes.
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International Journal of Behavioral Medicine
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© The Author(s) 2025. Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article's Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article's Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.
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Eigeland, JA; Moffitt, RL; Sheeran, N; Loxton, N; Jones, L, Modelling the Associations Between the Physician–Patient Relationship and Patient Outcomes via Self-Determination Theory Variables in Chronic Disease Management, International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 2025