Abstract: Objective To investigate the correlation between physician workload and patient satisfaction with physician-patient communication in a secondary maternal and child specialty hospital. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in June 2025, enrolling 50 outpatient physicians and 250 matched patients at the Jiading District Maternal and Child Health Hospital in Shanghai. Physician workload was assessed using the Chinese version of the NASA Task Load Index (C-NASA-TLX) alongside objective indicators. Patient satisfaction with communication was evaluated using the Doctor-Patient Communication Quality (DPCQ) scale. Statistical analyses included Spearman's correlation, multiple linear regression, and stratified analysis. Results The mean total score for the physicians' C-NASA-TLX was 68.60±12.56, and the mean total score for the patients' DPCQ was 43.49±6.14. Spearman's correlation analysis revealed significant negative correlations between the DPCQ total score and the C-NASA-TLX total score (r_s = -0.466), weekly working hours (r_s = -0.337), monthly frequency of night shifts (r_s = -0.240), and average daily outpatient volume (r_s = -0.161) (all P < 0.05). After adjusting for confounding variables in the multiple linear regression model, each 10-point increase in the C-NASA-TLX total score was associated with a 0.186-point decrease in the DPCQ score (β = -0.186, P < 0.05). Physician's professional title and the stage of the patient's consultation were also identified as independent influencing factors. Stratified analysis indicated that the negative correlation was more pronounced among junior-title physicians (r = -0.406, P < 0.01) than among those with intermediate (r = -0.313, P < 0.05) or senior professional titles (r = -0.321, P < 0.05). Conclusion Physician workload is negatively correlated with patient satisfaction in physician-patient communication, an association that is particularly prominent among junior-title physicians. These findings underscore the need for optimizing resource allocation to alleviate physician workload and consequently enhance the quality of communication.

Key words: Physician workload, Physician-patient communication, Satisfaction, Physicians, Maternal and child specialty hospital