Good Communication Is Critical to Health Care

Humans have a terrible time communicating. Just ask any teenager how well his parents listen. Or turn the tables and ask the parents whether their adolescent son or daughter pays attention to what they say.
We’re told that men are from Mars and women are from Venus and that creates all kinds of misunderstandings.
Nowhere is clear communication more critical than between doctors and patients. Unfortunately, this exchange often falls short.
Most physicians think they do a good job listening to patients and imparting crucial information. But studies have reported that, on average, a busy doctor interrupts a patient after about 12 to 22 seconds. Unless a patient knows which of two or three issues is most important and gets it out first, a health concern could be overlooked.
Doctors frequently overestimate how much information they share with patients. Studies frequently find that physicians report giving much more information about prescriptions, for example, than patients report hearing. That could be chalked up to patients not paying attention, but a new study using actual audiotapes of office visits found that a quarter of doctors did not name the drug they were prescribing, nearly half did not tell the patient how many tablets to take, and roughly two-thirds did not mention any possible side effects (Archives of Internal Medicine, Sept. 25, 2006).
No wonder some patients long for a different type of interaction with a doctor, as we heard from one gentleman: “I am a 62-year-old man with a few medical problems. Mostly I’ve decided to ‘watch and wait’ in the hope they will get better with time.
“This might seem like a faulty plan, but in my 62 years, I’ve seen a dozen doctors and found only one willing to actually TALK to me. I’ve had a couple of physicians enter the exam room reading the medical files, ask why I’m there and leave (all in less than 4 minutes–I’ve timed it) and NEVER LOOK AT ME. They looked at records, lab reports, current weight and BP but never at me.
“It gets worse. When I had the temerity to ask a question, I’ve had doctors get up and leave, saying that the nurse will explain it to me. How do I find a doctor willing to answer questions? I have a Ph.D. and can understand explanations.
“I’ve almost given up on finding such a doctor, but waiting for time to resolve issues isn’t a good strategy and as I age, it is becoming less viable. I really need to find a doctor who will diagnose, answer, explain, treat and respect me as a patient and a fellow human being.��?
Patients can help in keeping the lines of communication open. Writing down your major questions and concerns beforehand will help you stick to the basics and not get sidetracked.
When you get a prescription, make sure you understand:
*what it is
*what it is for
*how to take it
*when to stop taking it
*any interactions
*any signs of serious side effects that should prompt you to contact the doctor.
Taking responsibility for getting these details will make it easier for the doctor to communicate more completely. Our free Drug Safety Questionnaire will help you organize the information. Download it from our Web site: www.peoplespharmacy.com