Your Doctor’s Communication Skills

The following list outlines a number of specific things your doctor can do in communicating with patients. The more your doctor does, more than likely, the better your doctor's communication skills. How many of the following does your doctor use regularly?

1. Focuses communication on your main problems and concerns related to your asthma- Does your doctor:
   • Look directly at you during the office visit?
   • Encourage you to explain your asthma problems in detail?
   • Ask you how you feel your asthma is doing?
   • Obtain your perceptions about your asthma control?

   In communicating with patients, all of these questions will help you better communicate your asthma concerns and demonstrate that your doctor is concerned about your asthma care.

2. Uses active listening- When you discuss your asthma problems, doctors who are effective at communicating with patients will use a technique called active listening to clarify and better understand your problem. Effective doctors will clarify problems to make sure they understand your concerns and then further explore your asthma problem as needed.
3. Avoids interruptions- The average physician in the U.S. interrupts patients less than a minute after the patient has started talking. In communicating with patients, letting a patient finish and avoiding interruptions is a sign that your asthma doctor is a good communicator.
4. Summarize information- Does your doctor periodically summarize to make sure that you and she are on the same page? Summarizing demonstrates your doctor has heard what you are saying and provides you with an opportunity to correct any mistakes.
5. Discusses the social and psychological impact of asthma on you and your family- Asthma is more than just your peak flows and whether your are using your asthma medications correctly. If social and psychological aspects of asthma are not addressed, your asthma will not be under optimal control.
6. Checks for understanding- Doctors are very good at giving information, but doctors who excel at communicating with patients will also check for understanding. For example, your doctor might ask you to summarize what she has told you or ask you to explain how to take a new medication back to her.
7. Non-verbal skills- There are a number of things doctors can do without speaking to improve communication with patients. You are probably more likely to notice if your doctor does these poorly. For example, leaning forward while looking at you directly conveys a sense that your doctor is concerned and cares about what you are saying. Does your doctor sit down at your level and talk with you or does she just ask questions and type into a computer screen? Does your doctor allow herself to be paged and interrupted during your visit? All of these non-verbal skills can improve communication between a doctor and patient.
8. Involves you in the development of a treatment plan- Patients who are actively involved in their care are not only more satisfied, but they also are more likely to follow their doctor's instructions. While it is very easy for a doctor to advise you to exercise more or quit smoking, it is more difficult to find out what the patient's perspective and adapt the patient's beliefs and perspective to an asthma treatment plan. Doctors that take this extra step are more effective in communicating with patients and their patient's are more likely to be successful.
9. Expresses empathy- Statements like "it must have been really scary to wake up on a breathing machine" demonstrate to patients that your doctor has a feeling of how asthma affects you. Such statements, even if incorrect, show your doctor is trying to understand how asthma is affecting you.
10. Gently persuades you instead of telling you what to do- Because the decision is yours alone as to whether or not to follow your doctor's advice, doctors more effective in communicating with patients often present plans for diagnosis and treatment options with the idea that while your doctor can recommend, the ultimate decision is up to you.

How good a communicator is your doctor? Are there other skills that you think are important? Why not leave a comment here or go to the forum and join the discussion.