Communication in medical practice: Its role in therapy

Abstract

Communication is a very important tool on medical practice, especially in Family Medicine and Primary Care because of its broad scope. To be effective, the biopsychosocial approach needs to rely on a very strong communicational component during the different stages of the doctor-patient relationship, particularly the medical appointment, disease prevention activities, health education and when contacting with the patient's relatives. The doctor-patient communication can exert an influence on the compliance of the patient and his satisfaction with the medical appointment. Communication also has an effect on the physician;when it is adequately conveyed it can prevent stress or burnout problems, improving his well-being as well as reducing absenteeism. Communication plays a key role in the strategies of coping with hard situations in the daily medical practice, such as facing the emotions brought about by disease, death and pain. Because of the great significance of communication in medical practice it should play a bigger role in the different levels of medical education, both during graduation and post-graduation.