Chapter: 1 Professional Communication

Professional Communication

Objectives
After going through this chapter, you should be able to

•    Explain the importance of Communication Skills for Health Professionals
•    Understand how the Verbal & non Verbal Communication can be - effectively used in the Medical Practice
•    Learn how to develop Communication Skills

Introduction

Medical practice depends on interactions which involves exchange of information. This process starts from the first meeting of the patient with the Receptionist / Nurse / Doctor of a hospital. The patient seeks the medical vice to get relief for his physical, mental or psycho-social problems. He takes such decisions voluntarily and consciously with a hope that the doctor will give him a patient hearing and prompt treatment.

During such interaction, the doctor / nurse has to elicit essential and relevant information from the patient to ascertain the origin, the causative factors and the nature of illness before he makes a final diagnosis. In fact, the careful attention to the story narrated by the patient supplemented with relevant questions often lead to correct diagnosis. Good history taking is an art.