Difficult Conversations in Medicine

Description

• Includes practical tips to help the reader remember a checklist of useful techniques
• Advocates patient-centred approach to communication skills which promotes trust and confidence between participants
• Includes outlines of possible clinical cases posing specific problems with guidance on how to handle them
• Includes chapters from a variety of specialists which provides the reader with widespread experience and expertise from senior doctors
• Includes a chapter on survival techniques to assist junior healthcare professionals to avoid "burn-out" and keep their working and personal lives in balance

In all branches of medicine, effective communication between health care professionals and patients, families and carers is essential to ensure first-class treatment. Increasing public awareness of health issues and the ready availability of health information have lead the public to be more widely informed about common conditions and the treatments available. Patients therefore attend a medical consultation better informed so the need for improved communication skills is even greater. This book aims to demystify the 'doctor-patient' relationship in order that patients and potential patients can more easily understand the information which doctors are seeking to convey as well as gaining some insight into the difficulties of communication from a doctor's perspective.

Some conversations require specialised skills. Talking to people with difficult personalities and poor social skills can be challenging. Strong emotions of anger, frustration or distress need sensitive handling and particular age groups call on styles of address appropriate to their particular needs. Using the expertise of experienced doctors from many specialties this book covers not only the theory behind good communication skills but also gives a wealth of practical advice.

The book covers ethical and legal issues, planning difficult conversations, the patient's and doctor's perspectives, issues surrounding special groups such as children and the elderly, and conversations with patients from different cultural backgrounds. Outlines of possible clinical cases posing specific problems are included with guidance on how to handle them.

Readership: Undergraduate medical students, junior doctors and other health professionals in training

Contents

Theo Schofield: Introduction
1 Liza Macdonald: An introduction to basics
2 Liza Macdonald: Fundamentals of good communication
3 Michael Parker: The ethics of communication
4 Liza Macdonald: Overall plan of management of difficult conversations
5 Liza Macdonald: The patient's perspective
6 Liza Macdonald: The doctor's perspective
7 Peter Maguire: Dealing with strong emotions and difficult personalities
8 Melinda Edwards: Difficult conversations with children and parents
9 Liza Macdonald: Special adult groups
10 Liza Macdonald: Difficult practical circumstances
11 Cathy Heaven: Communication in a multiprofessional setting
12 Liza Macdonald: Communication in a multicultural society
13 Carmel O'Donovan: Apologies in clinical medicine
14 Liz Martinez: Legal constraints and guidelines to good practice
15 Peter Maguire, Carolyn Pitceathly, Catherine Hood & Liza Macdonald: Maintaining a balance
16 Liza Macdonald: Conclusions and future directions
Catherine Hood & Liza Macdonald: Appendix I: Transcripts of useful illustrative conversations
Theo Schofield: Appendix II: A curriculum for communication in medical education