Communication and the family physician.
Doctor-patient communication is most constructive when the doctor is honest, compassionate, caring, calm, available, sensitive and trustworthy. Obstacles in physicians which need to be overcome include poor listening habits, interrogation, frequent silence, domineering, minimizing, aloofness, admonishing, and poor choice of words.The fundamental skills which facilitate communication are empathy, respect, authenticity, confrontation and touching. Self awareness of weaknesses in these areas allows us to work on developing much more rewarding doctor-patient relationships.
Wilson
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