Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of figures
- List of tables
- Acknowledgments
- List of abbreviations
- Prologue
- 1 Questioning invisibility
- 2 Communication in the medical encounter
- 3 A different set of lenses
- 4 California Hope: a public hospital in changing times
- 5 Putting it all together
- 6 Finding visibility
- 7 Interpreters' voices
- 8 Emerging metaphors and final words
- References
- Index
2 - Communication in the medical encounter
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 22 September 2009
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of figures
- List of tables
- Acknowledgments
- List of abbreviations
- Prologue
- 1 Questioning invisibility
- 2 Communication in the medical encounter
- 3 A different set of lenses
- 4 California Hope: a public hospital in changing times
- 5 Putting it all together
- 6 Finding visibility
- 7 Interpreters' voices
- 8 Emerging metaphors and final words
- References
- Index
Summary
In the beginning is the relation.
Martin Buber, “I and Thou” (1970: 69)The essence of the doctor–patient relationship
The term relationship refers to the condition of having a logical or natural association between two entities (Random House Webster's Dictionary 1997). From the cradle to the grave, human relationships are vital (Adler 2002). Every human relationship involves a connectedness between individuals, which is molded by both verbal and non-verbal communicative processes. Without communication, successful relationships would not be possible. In fact, even poor relationships depend greatly on communicative processes between individuals.
The importance of effective communication in the building of a successful relationship is well illustrated in the healthcare provider (HCP)–patient situation. Communication between HCP and patient encompasses both verbal and non-verbal interactions (Lee, Back, Block, and Stewart 2002). Although physicians of today are better educated and more scientific than ever before, they sometimes do not communicate effectively with their patients (Jacobs et al. 2001). This is particularly true in cases where HCPs and patients do not share the same cultural background. The diagnostic importance and therapeutic benefit of conversation between physician and patient has long been recognized. Research on the HCP–patient relationship tells us that better communication can improve patient satisfaction and clinical outcomes (Rosenberg, Lussier, and Beaudoin 1997).
When referring to the HCP–patient situation, it is important not to confuse the terms interaction and relationship. These two terms are not interchangeable.
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- Medical Interpreting and Cross-cultural Communication , pp. 15 - 25Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2004