Communication Within the Doctor-Patient Relationship

Communication is one of the most important aspects of any healthy relationship. The doctor-patient relationship is no exception. The importance of clear, concise, and understandable communication from all parties involved cannot be overstated.  

Quite often, the patient role in the doctor-patient communication dynamic is overlooked. This, in my opinion, is a fatal mistake. If a patient doesn’t feel comfortable sharing information, feelings or asking pertinent questions they will likely not achieve maximum therapeutic benefit from their treatment plan. It is that simple.

As the doctor in the relationship, it is essential to continually be aware of our communication (Read) as well as ensuring we are creating the ideal sharing environment. Let’s face it; our ability to get patients better is what they are paying for. Therefore, we must provide patients the opportunity to ask their questions rather than simply inundating them with what we consider valuable information. The patient’s questions, beliefs, attitudes and misconceptions are much more important to draw out and address rather than sharing the results of the latest study or rushing through a predetermined treatment plan that has worked on previous patients with similar clinical presentation.

A simple method that I have employed lately is to restate the patient’s question back to them and try to capture their outlook towards the topic. For example, at the beginning of a subsequent treatment, a patient may report a new ache that seems to have started since the last treatment. In this situation, I ask the patient why they think this may have happened. Their response then provides information about how they feel towards the ache, the previous treatment and possible treatments going forward.  

An added benefit of rewording and redirecting a patient’s question is establishing the importance of their opinion and knowledge. From my experience, creating this type of non-judgmental, opinion sharing, question-asking environment benefits both doctor and patient in ways that cannot be measured. 

Unfortunately, patients are often unaware of the impact that their questions, opinions, anecdotes and personal preferences have on their clinical outcomes. The more knowledge and background information we can obtain as clinicians, the more well-rounded our treatment approach will be. Previous treatment success and individual treatment preferences can make a world of difference in patient care. Sharing this type of information with clinicians is just as important as recalling the specifics of mechanism of injury. 

Without making this into a long-winded, all encompassing post, it should start to become clear how important creating and harnessing a safe communication environment is in creating the optimal doctor-patient relationship. By bringing well-rounded communication into the office, a broader, more informed outlook can be attained and improved patient results achieved.