title: Dealing with 'difficult' patients--what goes wrong.
abstract: Tactful management of difficult situations can avoid the risks of violence. Being aware of non-verbal signals and using counselling skills helps GPs handle highly emotional patients. In the street or in the home, common sense steps will help protect doctors visiting patients. Recognising our own feelings is important too.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cembrowicz
mesh_terms: D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology*; D005194:Family Practice; D006801:Humans; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D010821:Physicians, Family / Q000523:psychology*; D012449:Safety