OBJECTIVES: Effective communication and trust between physicians and patients helps foster better physician–patient relationships, which in turn could improve patient satisfaction and adherence. The association between patients’ attitudes to their doctor and treatment adherence and satisfaction has not been fully explored in Urban China and Japan.

METHODS: This study uses the 2015–2017 National Health and Wellness Survey database in Japan and China, an Internet-based national survey of healthcare attitudes, behaviours, health status and medication utilization patterns of adults 18+. Respondents who indicated a physician diagnosis of type 2 diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol were included. Bivariate comparisons were conducted to determine the extent of relationship between attitudes to doctor versus treatment satisfaction (rated on a seven-point Likert scale) and adherence (using Morisky Medication Adherence Scale, ©MMAS-8).

RESULTS: Approximately 40% of patients agreed their doctors ‘are very attentive to my needs and concerns’ in each country. Significantly more Japanese than Chinese patients with hypertension (62.5% vs. 52.5%) or high cholesterol (60.3% vs. 52.9%) agreed that having regular contact with their physicians is the best way to avoid illness. Significantly more Chinese than Japanese patients with diabetes (16.9% vs. 4.5%), hypertension (21.1% vs. 4.9%) and high cholesterol (18.3% vs. 5.5%) preferred over-the-counter medications, than to depend on doctors to give prescription medications. Higher treatment satisfaction and adherence was associated with patients who agreed that they had attentive doctors and that having regular contact with their physicians was important. Patients who preferred over-the-counter medication had lower treatment adherence.

CONCLUSIONS: Patients’ attitudes towards doctors differ between China and Japan though attitudes and resulting treatment adherence and satisfaction are related within country. There may be other factors influencing treatment adherence and satisfaction and further studies are needed to understand their interaction with physician-patient relationships in these populations.