Abstract: Objective To understand the current state and changing trends in Chinese medical staff′s perceptions of doctor-patient relationships before and after the COVID-19 pandemic, and to analyze the influencing factors. 
Methods Based on Medical Staff′s Employment Surveys in 2018 and 2023, descriptive statistical analysis, univariate analysis and binary logistic regression were used to analyze medical staff′s perception of doctor-patient relationship and influencing factors. 
Results 11 771 (90.4% response rate) and 8 386 (91.1% response rate) valid questionnaires were collected in 2018 and 2023, respectively. In 2023, 58.5% of medical staff claimed that doctor-patient relationships were tense or very tense, with a decrease by 22% compared with that in 2018 (Z=34.885, P＜0.01). Age, hospital type, department, average daily working hours, frequency of verbal abuse, level of hospital cultural development, and media coverage orientation significantly influenced medical staff′s perceptions of doctor-patient relationships (P＜0.05). 
Conclusion Changes in the medical service model and the medical practice environment in the post-epidemic era have contributed to the improvement of doctor-patient relationship. The perceived level of the doctor-patient relationship among medical staff with different characteristics should gain differential attention and maintenance, and emphasis should be placed on strengthening the construction of the hospital culture to enhance the patients′ experience of medical care. 

Key words: doctor-patient relations, medical staff, perception