Patient-Physician Communication: Why and How

Article: Patient-Physician Communication: Why and How.

Patient-physician communication is an integral part of clinical practice. Patients who understand their doctors are more likely to acknowledge health problems, understand their treatment options, modify their behavior accordingly, and follow their medication schedules. These efforts to improve and measure communication skills are timely, as the barriers (e.g. foreign language, mental state, etc.) to effective communication between patients and physicians are growing. During the typical 15 or 20 minute patient-physician encounter, the physician makes choices regarding the words, questions, silences, tones, and facial expressions he or she chooses. From obtaining the patient's medical history to conveying a treatment plan, the physician's relationship with his patient is built on effective communication. In these encounters, both verbal and nonverbal forms of communication constitute this essential feature of medical practice. Most physicians will recognize that these encounters also involve the patient's search for a psychosocial healing "connexion," or therapeutic relationship. The physician who can communicate bad news in a direct and compassionate way will not only help the patient cope, but will also strengthen the therapeutic relationship, so that it endures and further extends the healing process.

Communication skills can help strengthen the patient-physician bond that many patients and physicians believe is lacking. Simple choices in words, information, speech, body position, and facial expression can greatly affect the quality of one-to-one communication between the patient and physician. The manner in which a physician communicates information to a patient is as important as the information being communicated. The elements of well-being that physicians have as goals could benefit and become easier to accomplish with a stronger bond between physician-patient. This can definitely have a positive effect and encourage patient to comply with his or her physician's recommendations to maximize his/her health. It is important however in this relationship, to remember the ethics of fidelity, confidentiality, and autonomy. These could certainly affect a physician-patient relationship if violated, even if justifiable.

John M. Travaline, MD; Robert Ruchinskas, PsyD; Gilbert E. D'Alonzo, Jr, DO. Patient-Physician

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