Seek first to understand.
A recent study suggests that doctors often diminish effective time with patients by talking about themselves in a manner that does not improve the patient visit and is sometimes disruptive to it. Good care requires hearing what the patient has to say, as the doctor cannot set proper goals for a visit without knowing the patient's agenda. Listening to the patient is the key both to good patient care and to caring for the patient.
Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA. rcentor@uab.edu
Robert M
RM
Centor
D003933:Diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D012650:Self Disclosure