Doctor/Patient Relations

Approaches and Communication

While the patient may approach the relationship purely from the perspective of his personal discomfort and concern the doctor may also have to take the interests of other patients into account.

At its root, the consultation is an exchange of information. The more effective the exchange the more successful the consultation.

In the 1960s Skipper and Leonard showed that sharing information with surgical patients improved recovery rates and enhanced outcomes.

In the case of patients who are managing their own treatment, the impact of compliance on outcomes makes successful communication central to the therapeutic process.

Mis-communication and non compliance may lead to repeated consultations and the waste of expensive drugs.