Hospital surveys indicate lack of patient awareness of diagnoses and treatments, yet physicians report they effectively communicate with patients. Gaps in understanding and communication could result in decreased quality of care. We sought to assess patient knowledge and perspectives of inpatient care and determine differences from physician assessments. . We surveyed corresponding internal medicine resident and attending physicians, asking them to report on their care of hospitalized patients

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... nd their understanding of their patients' perspectives on the care received. Results: Eighty-nine patients and 43 physicians participated. Although 73% of patients thought there was 1 main physician, 18% correctly named that physician, compared with 67% of physicians who thought patients knew