The relationship of perceived physician communicator style to patient satisfaction

Using Norton's (1978, 1983) communicator style construct, this study examined how patients’ perceptions of their physician's communicator style was related to patient satisfaction. Eight communicator styles and six dimensions of patient satisfaction were identified. The results revealed that most of the significant relationships were nonlinear and that different styles were related to different types of satisfaction. Theoretic and pragmatic implications, as well as avenues for future research, are discussed.