If either party has difficulty hearing the other in a verbal exchange, obfuscation may result. In recent years, there has been a steadily growing interest in how to improve doctor-patient communication, how to minimize misunderstandings, and how to maximize patient involvement. However, despite good intentions, the problem continues. Perhaps educators in both medical and chiropractic colleges should assign greater importance to the role of doctor-patient communication. College catalogues exemplify this felt need by the conspicuous absence of adequate course offerings in professional communication.
Journals follow suit by affording relatively little or no space to the subject of communication.
Technology appears to dominate the health care scene, while the art of establishing a meaningful dialogue between doctors and their patients receives only marginal attention. This column has identified some of the more common causes of obfuscation. Hopefully, readers will take the time to reflect upon their own communication skills and, by so doing, facilitate better doctor-patient relationships. Before closing, one other point should be mentioned. Insurance carriers who provide members of our profession with malpractice coverage heavily emphasize the importance of good doctor-patient communication.