Exploratory Study of The Perception and Awareness of The Non-Verbal Personal Characteristics of King Saud Medical City Physicians

2026-05-04T10:57:23-04:00

Abstract:

Background: Non-verbal communication (NVC) conveys social cues, influencing trust, satisfaction, and clinical out-comes in patient-physician interactions. It includes elements like eye contact, gestures, and tone. Despite its complexity, NVC plays a critical role in healthcare, necessitating integration into medical education to enhance communication skills and foster effective doctor-patient relationships.

Objective: This study evaluates KSMC physicians' non-verbal behavior perception, personal and specialty factors influencing it, and its impact on patient outcomes.

Methods: It is a cross-sectional study that included 201 physicians from King Saud Medical City, Riyadh, using a structured questionnaire to assess non-verbal communication skills. Data was analyzed via IBM SPSS 29.0.

Results: This study assessed 201 physicians at King Saud Medical City, Riyadh. Participants were predominantly male (n=113, 56.2%) and Saudi (n=145, 72.1%), with most aged 20–30 years old (n=75, 37.3%). Nearly half of physicians were residents (n=89, 44.3%), and the majority had postgraduate education (n=156, 77.6%). Training in communication skills was reported by 133 (66.2%) during undergraduate years and by 100 (49.8%) during postgraduate years. Higher awareness scores were observed among female gender (mean=35.0, p=0.024), non-Saudi (mean=35.3, p=0.035), consultants (mean=35.5, p=0.024), and those trained during undergraduate years (mean=34.8, p=0.021). Listening scores varied significantly by specialty (p=0.032) with nephrologists scoring highest (mean=24.7). Emotional interaction skills were higher among female doctors (mean=20.1, p=0.004). Overall, listening had the highest category score (22.0 ± 2.55, 88%) while emotional interaction scored lowest (19.5 ± 2.74, 78%).

Conclusions: This study highlights significant gender, nationality, training, and specialty-based differences in non-verbal communication skills among physicians. Listening skills were the most used, while emotional interaction skills needed improvement, emphasizing the importance of tailored training to enhance communication and patient care outcomes.

Journal of Health Informatics in Developing Countries

Exploratory Study of The Perception and Awareness of The Non-Verbal Personal Characteristics of King Saud Medical City Physicians