Hospitals would do well to put a folding chair or stool in patients’ rooms to enable eye-to-eye contact from clinicians to aid patient recovery, revealed a US study.

Researchers from the University of Michigan and the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System found a clinician’s posture – whether they stand, crouch or sit at eye level with a patient – appeared to significantly influence patient trust, satisfaction and overall outcomes. Published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine, their review analysed 14 studies, including randomised controlled trials, quasi-experimental studies and observational studies conducted in various hospital settings, which explored clinician posture during inpatient interactions. Doctors who sat or positioned themselves at eye level with patients generally saw better outcomes such as: enhanced trust, increased satisfaction and improved perception of care, they reported.

“In a hospital setting, where power dynamics can heavily influence patient experiences, something as simple as sitting down can help bridge the gap between clinicians and patients,” said lead author Dr Nathan Houchens. Practical steps to implement better eye-to-eye contact included providing folding chairs or stools in patient rooms, he said. “This small change has the potential to make a big difference in patient care.” He noted, however, that many studies acknowledged physicians couldn’t always sit, since factors such as no available chair, worries about taking up more time and concerns about infection transmission, made it more difficult.