What clinicians believe they said and what patients believe they heard

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Published: 22 Jun 2012
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Dr Steve Johnson - Yeovil District Hospital, UK

ecancer talks to Dr Steve Johnson at the 17th European Haematology Association Congress in Amsterdam about the problems in communication between doctors and patients.

 

In a series held at each congress, doctors and actors playing patients perform a staged consultation to convey an example of how doctors should explain the risks and benefits of treatment to a patient.

 

The misunderstanding in communication centres around what clinicians think they have said versus what the patients think the doctor has said.

 

A number of factors cause the communication problems, such as legal consent, legislation and technical language, as well as patients maintaining a positive attitude by down playing risks.

 

Doctors should learn from this session that they need to have face-to-face discussions with the patient and another person who listens in to prevent over complication or misunderstanding.

 

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