Question:
Go to a Nurse Practitioner; they are better trained than MD’s
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – "The most important lesson gained from the study is that better communication skills can be learned," Dr. Abraham B. Bergman of Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, Washington writes in an editorial that accompanies the study. Bergman stresses the need for new doctors to be taught how to listen to their patients. SOURCE: Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine 2003;157:414-415,419-424. Gender, Ethnicity Impede Info Giving to Doctors NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – Gender and ethnicity can play a large role in the type of sensitive information a mother will reveal to a new pediatrician, a new study has found. In the study, African American mothers shared less information with white doctors while white mothers revealed less information to male doctors. The findings indicate that new doctors may benefit from specialized training about how to listen more intently during meetings with patients and provide an environment that will encourage openness and trust, the study’s authors say. –rest at link– http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=healthNews&storyID=2726170
Response:
Ok. However when you say "both sides", I would suggest that in a Dr-patient situation, the patient may have any number of reasons why communication is difficult for them, whether arising from their health problems or not. If your work includes children, for example, then that would require particular listening skills. Similarly for the full range of actual mental illnesses. Similarly for those with dementia. Similarly with those who have alcohol or drug abuse problems. Similarly for any patients on medications which may be affecting their behaviour and/or their communication. Similarly for those experiencing any form of PTSD, or … etc, etc.
I’d add to that cultural considerations, and family-background considerations, sometimes gender-role considerations. Some patients express their needs very directly, whereas others have been trained to express them subtly and indirectly. Patients from some backgrounds may have taboos about talking about particular things. People from different cultures express pain differently in terms of body language and verbal statements. And people have different styles of interaction; for example, in many cultures (such as many Asian and Latino cultures) it’s considered disrespectful to look an authority figure directly in the eye, whereas in others (such as American culture) making direct eye contact is regarded as a sign of forthrightness and honesty. Thus it’s possible for a doctor to misinterpret a patient’s respect for his status as evasiveness or discomfort. There can also be purely personal differences in approach; some patients will bring up anything they think is relevant, whereas others won’t mention anything they aren’t specifically asked about. Oh, and add generational differences as well.
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – If your work includes children, for example, then that would require particular listening skills. Similarly for the full range of actual mental illnesses. Similarly for those with dementia. Similarly with those who have alcohol or drug abuse problems. Similarly for any patients on medications which may be affecting their behaviour and/or their communication. Similarly for those experiencing any form of PTSD, or … etc, etc. I’d add to that cultural considerations, and family-background considerations, sometimes gender-role considerations. Some patients express their needs very directly, whereas others have been trained to express them subtly and indirectly. Patients from some backgrounds may have taboos about talking about particular things. People from different cultures express pain differently in terms of body language and verbal statements. And people have different styles of interaction; for example, in many cultures (such as many Asian and Latino cultures) it’s considered disrespectful to look an authority figure directly in the eye, whereas in others (such as American culture) making direct eye contact is regarded as a sign of forthrightness and honesty. Thus it’s possible for a doctor to misinterpret a patient’s respect for his status as evasiveness or discomfort. There can also be purely personal differences in approach; some patients will bring up anything they think is relevant, whereas others won’t mention anything they aren’t specifically asked about. Oh, and add generational differences as well.
And, some of us (many, maybe) just have times when we find communicating difficult. Thanks for a thoughtful post. Karuna
Response:
"The most important lesson gained from the study is that better communication skills can be learned," Dr. Abraham B. Bergman of Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, Washington writes in an editorial that accompanies the study. Bergman stresses the need for new doctors to be taught how to listen to their patients. SOURCE: Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine 2003;157:414-415,419-424. Gender, Ethnicity Impede Info Giving to Doctors NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – Gender and ethnicity can play a large role in the type of sensitive information a mother will reveal to a new pediatrician, a new study has found. In the study, African American mothers shared less information with white doctors while white mothers revealed less information to male doctors. The findings indicate that new doctors may benefit from specialized training about how to listen more intently during meetings with patients and provide an environment that will encourage openness and trust, the study’s authors say. –rest at link– http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=healthNews&storyID=2726170
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – "The most important lesson gained from the study is that better communication skills can be learned," Dr. Abraham B. Bergman of Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, Washington writes in an editorial that accompanies the study. Bergman stresses the need for new doctors to be taught how to listen to their patients. Huh? What? Mark, MD You don’t think it’s necessary? Or not a valid concept? Or not worth considering? (I can’t tell from your reply) Don’t jump to conclusions.
I wasn’t. I replied in a way that allows for further discussion of the question, rather than a "HaHa" response which would have left it at that. I did think your reply was funny. My first response was to smile (your humour IS appreciated.). However I wasn’t 100% certain that there was no questioning on your part, as to the validity of the point. The same words spoken in different tones, or different volume and pitch, can have different meanings. And I was interested as to your thoughts on the question. I was making a joke. I think listening to the patient is the most important thing a doctor does. I agree with the article that doctors and their patients would be much better served if both sides communicated better. Mark, MD
Ok. However when you say "both sides", I would suggest that in a Dr-patient situation, the patient may have any number of reasons why communication is difficult for them, whether arising from their health problems or not. If your work includes children, for example, then that would require particular listening skills. Similarly for the full range of actual mental illnesses. Similarly for those with dementia. Similarly with those who have alcohol or drug abuse problems. Similarly for any patients on medications which may be affecting their behaviour and/or their communication. Similarly for those experiencing any form of PTSD, or … etc, etc.
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – "The most important lesson gained from the study is that better communication skills can be learned," Dr. Abraham B. Bergman of Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, Washington writes in an editorial that accompanies the study. Bergman stresses the need for new doctors to be taught how to listen to their patients. Huh? What? Mark, MD You don’t think it’s necessary? Or not a valid concept? Or not worth considering? (I can’t tell from your reply)
Don’t jump to conclusions. I was making a joke. I think listening to the patient is the most important thing a doctor does. I agree with the article that doctors and their patients would be much better served if both sides communicated better. Mark, MD
Response:
"The most important lesson gained from the study is that better communication skills can be learned," Dr. Abraham B. Bergman of Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, Washington writes in an editorial that accompanies the study. Bergman stresses the need for new doctors to be taught how to listen to their patients. Huh? What? Mark, MD
You don’t think it’s necessary? Or not a valid concept? Or not worth considering? (I can’t tell from your reply) http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=healthNews&storyID=2726170
Response:
"George J Dagis" Go to a Nurse Practitioner; they are better trained than MD’s why thank you sir!!! I wouldn’t say we were "better trained"…but we do tend to listen better….
And that makes *all* the difference. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – hawki the nurse practitioner
Response:
"The most important lesson gained from the study is that better communication skills can be learned," Dr. Abraham B. Bergman of Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, Washington writes in an editorial that accompanies the study. Bergman stresses the need for new doctors to be taught how to listen to their patients.
Huh? What? Mark, MD
Response:
"George J Dagis" Go to a Nurse Practitioner; they are better trained than MD’s
why thank you sir!!! I wouldn’t say we were "better trained"…but we do tend to listen better…. hawki the nurse practitioner
Response:
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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – "The most important lesson gained from the study is that better communication skills can be learned," Dr. Abraham B. Bergman of Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, Washington writes in an editorial that accompanies the study. Bergman stresses the need for new doctors to be taught how to listen to their patients. SOURCE: Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine 2003;157:414-415,419-424. Gender, Ethnicity Impede Info Giving to Doctors NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – Gender and ethnicity can play a large role in the type of sensitive information a mother will reveal to a new pediatrician, a new study has found. In the study, African American mothers shared less information with white doctors while white mothers revealed less information to male doctors. The findings indicate that new doctors may benefit from specialized training about how to listen more intently during meetings with patients and provide an environment that will encourage openness and trust, the study’s authors say. –rest at link– http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=healthNews&storyID=2726170
Expecting doctors to listen is about as frustrating as expecting MHA posters to read for content. –Rich
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