title: Perspectives on patient-doctor communication.
abstract: Until recently, the content, structure, and function of communication between doctors and patients has received little attention and has been excluded from the realm of scientific inquiry; as a result, most clinicians have had little formal training in communication skills. In this paper leaders in doctor-patient communication present four approaches that are currently used as the basis for clinical training and research, summarize the progress made in forming a consensus, and outline the implications of these perceptions for practicing physicians.
authors.affiliation: Program for Biopsychosocial Study, Highland Hospital, Rochester, New York.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Epstein
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Cohen-Cole
authors.forename: I R
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: McWhinney
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Smilkstein
mesh_terms: D003142:Communication; D006801:Humans; D008960:Models, Psychological; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D014481:United States