Communication Skills Mentoring Program

Communication Skills in the News

Source: AAOS Headline News

Date: Jan. 14, 2002

Patients report communication problems with physicians

A telephone survey of more than 2,000 patients found 78% of the patients reported at least one problem with their physician, including not having enough time to explain the reason for the visit, not getting understandable answers to questions or not being involved in treatment decisions. An analysis of the responses, reported in the January issue of the Journal of General Internal Medicine revealed that each of the problems was independently linked with a lower perception of trust. Three of the problems--not giving understandable answers, not taking enough time to answer questions, and not giving enough medical information--were independently related to considering changing doctors, said Nancy L. Keating, MD, The Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, and colleagues. "More physician training in communication skills, particularly focused on answering questions in ways that patients can understand, taking enough time to answer questions, providing adequate amounts of information and discussing differences in opinion about whether tests, procedures or referrals are needed, may strengthen patient-physician relationships," the researchers said. Reuters Health Jan. 14, 2002.

Source: Journal of General Internal Medicine 2002;17.

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