Lonely patients may feel misunderstood by their doctor and less confident managing their health

Research Brief 

Lonely Patients May Feel Misunderstood By Their Doctor and Less Confident Managing Their Health  

Background: Loneliness is increasingly recognized as a health concern and has been linked to poorer physical and mental health. Researchers surveyed 2,673 adult patients from a primary care practice in Ontario, Canada. Participants completed the three-item UCLA Loneliness Scale and answered questions about aspects of their care experience. Statistical models examined whether loneliness was associated with patients’ ratings of these experiences. 

What They Found: People who felt lonely reported worse experiences with their health care in almost every area measured. Compared to people who didn't feel lonely, those who felt lonely were less likely to say their clinician listened carefully or understood them. They were also less likely to feel that their care was coordinated, that someone followed up to make sure needed care was received, and that they felt confident managing their health. Loneliness was not associated with reports about the timeliness of access to a clinician. 

Implications: These findings suggest that loneliness may shape how patients experience interpersonal aspects of primary care, such as communication and support.

Association Between Loneliness and Patient Experience in a Primary Health Care Setting 

Walter P. Wodchis, PhD, et al  

Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada 

Institute for Better Health, Trillium Health Partners, Ontario, Canada