Book reviews

[摘要] Oh, I wish I had a pound for every time a patient has relayed a thoroughly believable and, often, cringeworthy story of how they've been subjected to a healthcare consultation delivered with the grace and style of the Spanish Inquisition or the bluntness of Henry VIII's chief executioner's second-best axe. Why, when we are (supposedly) highly intelligent and extensively trained professionals, are we — often, though not always — so bad at communicating with our patients? If we were in the commercial sector, many of our ‘customers’ would have voted with their feet. But, of course, they can't do that. They're stuck with us for the most part. Good communication skills, thankfully, have been recognised as an essential part of effective clinical practice and their teaching and practice have gained more prominence in both undergraduate and postgraduate curricula. Attention to the way in which we communicate with our patients should be a lifelong process.

[学科分类] 卫生学