I have chosen to write about the verbal communication as an important component which

we should consider when we are communicating with our patient.

The times are changing, so the doctors. Now they need to take more time to embrace
their patients' individual needs. For example, something as simple as test results for
cholesterol and lipid levels it's important to not only tell the patients the numbers, but
also what that number means in the context of the patient's overall health, specific habits
and lifestyle changes.
An empathetic doctor not only treat the patient for what he came in for , he also answers
his questions and he also brought up some things that it hadn't occurred to him to ask
about. Doctors and health care providers should have started to modify their practices
with an eye to improving communication.
Here is how I think its normal to establish a rapport and ask the reason for consulting a
physician. In my opinion, I think that it is important to get the expressed health concern
or chief complaint in the patients own words.

MR.JULES: Good morning, Dr. Olsen!

DR.OLSEN: Good morning, Mr. Jules! What brought you here today?
MR.JULES: I have been suffering from fever since yesterday.
DR.OLSEN: What do you feel? Have you any other problem?
MR.JULES: I also feel headache and shivering.
DR.OLSEN: How strong is the pain. Lets say in a 1 to 10 scale, how would you describe the
intensity of the pain?
MR.JULES: Between 4-5
DR.OLSEN: It is the pain continuous or does it come and go?
MR. JULES: It come and goes.
DR. OLSEN: : Have you travelled recently?
MR. JULES: Ive been to South Africa last month with my family.
DR. OLSEN: How long did you stay there?
MR. JULES: Almost three weeks.
DR.OLSEN: Ok, let me feel your pulse and check your fever. At this time the fever is 104
degree. Dont worry, there is nothing serious. I am giving you the medicine, and you will
be all right in a few days.
MR.JULES: Thank you, doctor.
DR.OLSEN: But get your blood tested for malaria, and come with the report tomorrow. I
want to make sure that you are not sick or if there is any suspicion of malaria.
MR.JULES: OK doctor.
DR.OLSEN: I shall recommend at least two days of rest for you.
MR.JULES :Would you prepare a medical certificate for me to submit it in my office?
DR.OLSEN: Oh sure. Ill write it in a minute. Here, this is your medical certificate.
MR.JULES :Thank you very much. Please tell me how shall I take this medicine?
DR.OLSEN: This medicine is for one day only. Take this dose as soon as you reach your
home, the second at 3 pm and the third at night before sleeping.
MR.JULES: What should I eat doctor?
DR.OLSEN :You should eat only light food. You can take milk and fresh fruit also. Just drink
plenty of fluids because you need to be hydrated. Take aspirin when needed but no more
than 8 in a day. Rest as much as you can.
MR.JULES: Thank you doctor. I shall see you tomorrow with my blood report.

The manner in which a physician communicates information to a patient is as important

as the information being communicated. Patients who understand their doctors are more
likely to acknowledge health problems, understand their treatment options, modify their
behavior accordingly, and follow their medication schedules.

I consider that high levels of patient satisfaction could have been correlated with each of
the following: physician's expressions of personal warmth and courtesy toward the
patient - formally greets the patient, shows personal interest, freely volunteering
information to the patient - clarifying and summarizing information received, conveying
information at a level of discourse appropriate to the patient's background and
knowledge, is warm and friendly and provides closure, physician's active listening-openended questions, clarifying questions, empathetic questions, encouraging questions, and
eliciting the patient's concerns and expectations, providing explanations of the patient's
conditions, its causes, and treatment and eliciting patient statements of understanding
and agreement, expressing emotional support and trust in the patient.
It is important to recognize that these verbal communication behaviors are consistent
with principles of patient-centered interviewing and they represent concrete, operational
behaviors that appear to be exemplary of more general constructs such as involvement,
expressiveness, and lack of dominance. They also reflect a communication style that can
be characterized by reciprocity between physician and patient in that both use the same
word lists, interrupt one another at a similar rate, and allow sufficient response time for
reflective silence in the interview.
To conclude, I believe that simple choices in words, information depth, speech patterns,
body position, and facial expression can greatly affect the quality of one-to-one
communication between the patient and physician. Avoiding communication pitfalls and
sharpening the basic communication skills previously suggested can help strengthen the
patient-physician bond that many patients and physicians believe is lacking.