In all branches of medicine, effective communication between health care professionals and patients, families and carers is essential to ensure first-class treatment. Increasingly 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. Skill in communication is a matter of personal ability which varies widely between individuals in the
medical profession as in any other. In response, the aim of this book is to dispel the anxieties which contribute to poor communication.
This 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.