Communication with the patient

Doctors are medical professionals and their strongest motivation is to treat patients successfully. However, as lay people, patients cannot evaluate a doctor's expertise, but they can evaluate a doctor's approach, his behaviour during diagnosis, investigation or treatment. Most complaints about medical staff do not stem from poor health care, but arise from inappropriate communication.

Professional, i.e. professional and human communication with patients and their relatives really matters. Not only because, to avoid unnecessary conflicts and complaints, but mainly because that professional communication promotes good relationships between doctors and patients, improves their cooperation (compliancy), but mainly it reduces the amount of stress doctors have in their already demanding work.

The Communication Handbook was created by two experienced experts, practitioners and authors of several books. After years of active work with patients, doctors and nurses, the chapters map out typical challenging communication situations. In the book, they are presented in the form of 18 annotated dialogues between the doctor and the patient or relatives. Both authors are psychologists (one with clinical experience) and thus point out appropriate communication practices and common mistakes that doctors make despite good intentions.

The communication chapters are complemented by sections explaining the patient's experience and behaviour in particular situations, which helps to understand why patients behave in certain ways and enables clinicians to understand why it is appropriate to respond to the patient with suggested treatments.