Physicians' Views of Interpersonal Communication Training, the Importance of Communication in their Medical Practices, and the Delivery of Bad News

Sample

Communication in medical contexts can be verbal, written, or electronically delivered; however, interpersonal communication remains the most vital form of communication in medical practice (Makoul, 2003). Medical communication comprises a complex set of behaviors used to carry out the functions of the medical interview: eliciting information, building relationships, and educating patients about a health issue or ways to manage an issue. Medical communication also involves explaining the meaning of a diagnosis, making treatment recommendations, and describing prognoses, while also informing patients and loved ones of how the medical concern will affect their lives (Barrier, Li, & Jensen, 2003; Keller & Carroll, 1994; O’Keefe, 2001; Street, Kurpat, Bell, Kravitz, & Haidet, 2003). Thus, physician-patient communication is a fundamental aspect of medical care (Back, Arnold, Baile, Tulsky, & Fryer-Edwards, 2005). In this chapter we analyze physicians’ views of the role communication plays in their medical practices and their preparedness for effective communication with patients, as well as how they perceive the ways in which they communicate bad news to patients and family members/caregivers.