2. Objectives
• Understand why patient-doctor
communication is key to a
successful relationship
• Learn basic communication
strategies for an improved
patient-doctor experience
6. Communication
• Patient-Doctor communication is
important
– Improved satisfaction
– Improved compliance
– Improved decision making
– Better health outcomes
– Decreased malpractice claims
7. Communication Skills
• Essential for diagnosing and
treating illness
• Essential in establishing a
meaningful patient-doctor
relationship
• Facilitates educating and
counseling patients
9. A model patient-
doctor relationship
• Trust
• Compassion
• Open and honest
communication
• Respect
10. Why is Doctor-Patient
Communication
Unique?
• Trust
– Patients on the first visit share
their most personal information to
someone they have never met
before
– They look to you for guidance
when making critical health care
decisions
11. Why is Doctor-Patient
Communication
Unique?
• Trust
– Within minutes of meeting,
patients are often required to
disrobe for a physical examination
and are placed in a vulnerable
situation
12. Communication
• Who will you be communicating
with?
– Patients
– Families
– Colleagues
– Other health professionals
13. Patient
Communication
• Patients who feel at ease are
more likely to tell you their
reason for coming to the
doctor’s office
• Be yourself!
• Show true interest
14. The Physician’s
Duties
• Respects the patient
• Ensures privacy and trust of
confidential information
• Demonstrates genuine concern
for patient’s health
• Limits distraction to provide
patient undivided attention
18. Empathy
• To understand a person’s
experience
• Different than sympathy
• Requires
– Active listening
– Interest in patient’s experience
19. Objectivity
• Removing your own beliefs and
values
• Avoid judgmental attitudes
– IV Drug Abuse
– Education
– Socioeconomic status
– Language/Cultural differences
– Ageism
20. Active Listening Skills
• Respect the patient as a whole
person, not a diseased body
• Use confirmatory statements:
– “Yes”
– “Tell me more about that”
• Allow the person to tell their
whole story without unnecessary
interruptions
23. Body Language
• Patients notice more than you
think
– 2/3 of communication is non-
verbal
• Appropriate use of touch
24. Patient-Doctor
Communication:
Key Points
• Ask about expectations, feelings
and concerns
• Show concern for comfort and
modesty
• Give an opportunity to express
feelings and concerns
• Encourage patients to ask
questions
Allow students 10 or more minutes to share their experiences.
Allow students 10 or more minutes to share their experiences. Allow students to comment on each others stories- reflecting on how the negative experience made them feel as a patient, toward the treating provider, to the profession in general. Allow students to reflect on how this experience will shape their future clinical career.
Allow students 10 or more minutes to reflect on the question.
Provide students examples from clinical practice:
*Highlight how the above points makeup the backbone for the clinical encounter, medical history taking and physical examination
Remind students to be culturally sensitive and respectful.