Patient satisfaction is a vital component of evaluating medical care. The relationship between doctors and their patients is one of the most important bases of medical care services. When patients feel heard, respected, and understood, they are more likely to trust their doctor, follow medical advice, and feel satisfied with the care they receive. In Iraq, this relationship faces unique challenges. In the context of the Iraqi medical system, there exists a unique practice where medical doctors operate within a dual framework. This study was conducted to determine how people in Basra view their interactions with doctors. Through a questionnaire, the research explored five key areas: communication, trust and accessibility, treatment consistency, financial issues, and professionalism. A cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of Basra City population of both genders and different age groups using a questionnaire form. Sampling process involved interviewing a convenience availability sample. The form comprised two parts. The first involved sociodemographic information of the respondents. Part two involved exploring respondents’ beliefs about certain aspects of the community-doctor relationship. These were patient-doctor communication, trust and accessibility, treatment consistency and financial practices, and professionalism and competence. Each item was answered on a five-point Likert scale ranging from strong disagreement to strongly agree. The study documented the existence of some positive perceptions across the studied aspects of relationship. But the findings revealed some participants reported deficiencies in physicians’ communication skills. It was recommended to enhance medical communication skills through intensified efforts to improve communication competencies among doctors, beginning at the undergraduate level, extending through postgraduate education, and continuing with ongoing professional development. Such improvements are essential to ensure high-quality doctor–patient interactions .
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