**4. Patient-centeredness**

As suggested by [6] the patient-centered medicine is a "two-person medicine" with both the doctor and the patient having their integral part in this relationship, and cannot be considered separately, as they are influencing each other all the time. Mead and Bower [7] underline that a large number of variables can potentially influence the patient-centeredness. The so-called "shapers", these variables may impact this relationship. Such variables include cultural norms, socioeconomic background, and societal expectations, such as norms relating to gender, the medical training of doctors, etc. For example, it is more socially acceptable for females to discuss feelings and emotions than males. On the other hand, ethnic differences, presence of third parties, workload pressures or time-limitations may create barriers to effective communication and limit possibilities for full negotiation in this doctor-patient relationship.
