[Doctor-Patient communication]

Abstract

The Doctor-Patient relationship is of fundamental importance in the field of care and continues to undergo profound transformations. In ancient times the doctor was "authoritarian": the patient was considered a passive element, incapable of understanding, knowing and acting for his own health. The doctor then became a "paternalistic" figure and it is only recently that the patient has become a responsible subject who interacts with the doctor in the definition and evaluation of every health intervention. The patient needs to be actively involved and informed, participating in the therapeutic process and in monitoring the positive and negative effects of the treatment. The doctor needs to communicate in a way that is simple and appropriate in order to avoid misunderstandings, which are very common as patients and doctors can often attribute different meanings to certain words. Doctors need to be aware that such a possibility exists and verify that the patient has understood the real meaning of his words. As good communication between doctors and patients is a strategic factor in care, communication courses should be included in any Medical Degree course.

Keywords: communication; doctor; humanisation; patient.