1. The Patient-Doctor
Relationship
Dr Sanjev Dave
Professor & HOD
Community Medicine
SSJGIMSR, Almora(UK)

2. Objectives
• Understand why patient-doctor
communication is key to a
successful relationship
• Learn basic communication
strategies for an improved
patient-doctor experience

3. The Patient-Doctor
Relationship
• Class exercise:
– Tell me about your most
memorable positive experience
with a physician (when you were a
patient)

4. The Patient-Doctor
Relationship
• Class exercise:
– Tell me your most negative
experience

5. The Patient-Doctor
Relationship
• What does being a doctor mean
to you?

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

8. Communication
• Information gathered must be:
– Objective
– Accurate
– Precise

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

15. Respect
• Introduce yourself
– Patient
– Family
– Caregiver

16. Respect
• Explain your role and goal for
the interaction

17. Respect
• If appropriate shake hands
• Always address the patient as:
Mr., Mrs., Ms, etc.

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

21. Active Listening
• Don’t be afraid of silence

22. Body Language
• Examination room configuration
• Sitting/Standing
• Eye level
• Eye contact
– Note taking
• Posture
• Hurried speech

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

25. Communication skills
can be developed with
practice, patience and
a willingness to learn