title: An essential understanding of physician-patient communication. Part I.
abstract: The first of two parts, this article explores the question, "Is there a communication problem between patients and physicians?" It reviews both available literature on the topic of physician-patient communication and survey results that indicate a high degree of patient dissatisfaction with their relationships with physicians. One view of how to understand the relationship focuses on the patient as a consumer who must have the ability to choose a care provider and the information necessary to make informed choices. Other models embracing the scientific paradigm are also described.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Lenox Hill Hospital, New York, NY 10021, USA. zeevie@aol.com
authors.forename: Z E
authors.initials: ZE
authors.lastname: Neuwirth
mesh_terms: D003142:Communication; D006801:Humans; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D014481:United States