COMMUNICATION

WITH THE PATIENT:

ASPECTS OF DRUG USE
Empathy
• It is the ability to understand how someone feels because you can imagine what it
is like to be them. It plays a major role in improving and regulating the relationship
between physician and patient.
• Although there is no fixed protocol for communicating with patients , following
points might be considered to make more empathetic conversation with patient:
• 1. Asses what the patient knows about his illness.
• Welcoming statement like:
• “Yes Mrs. Singh how may I help you!”
• “I’m here to help you. Please go ahead and tell me what worries you”’
• “I understand your concern. Kindly tell me more about it”.
• 2. Avoid making recommendations during the information gathering phase of the
interview.
• 3. Do not jump to conclusion or rapid solutions without hearing all of the facts.
• 4. Maintain objectivity. Do not be carried away by the patients attitude, beliefs or
prejudice.
• 5. Be aware of the patient’s body language and non verbal messages . Depending
on your relationship with patient, move on from less personal to more personal
topics . This may remove some of the patient’s initial defensiveness.
• 6. Maintain eye contact with the patient . Avoid note taking while listening to the
patient.
COMMUNICATION WITH SPECIAL
PATIENTS.
• 1. The elderly
• Older adults learn at a slower rate than younger persons.
• They might also have problems such as poor vision, speech or hearing.
• Encourage feedback as to whether they understand the intended message.
• 2. Terminally ill patients.
• Before interacting with them be aware of your own feelings about death and about interacting with
terminally ill patients.
• 3. Patients with AIDS.
such patients face social stigmas apart from the disease itself
The key is not to treat them as different from others.
Make them feel positive about the prognosis . Make them believe that the advent of highly effective anti
retroviral therapy has made HIV infection a chronic condition rather then a terminal disease.
• 4. Mentally ill.
• Try to determine the patients cognitive abilities by asking open ended questions.
• Mentally ill patients might not always understand there treatment or medical
purpose.
• Ethical issues might arise whether it is required to take patient consent for
medications.
• 5. Children.
• Attempt to communicate in accordance to child’s developmental level
• Ask open ended questions rather then question requiring a yes or no response.
• Non verbal communication is very important with children therefore be aware of
your facial expressions, tone of voice, gestures and so on.
ETHICAL PRINCIPLES
• Four commonly accepted principles of health care ethics from Beauchamp and
Childress(2008), includes:
• 1.Principle of respect for autonomy.
• 2. Principle of Non maleficence.
• 3.Principle of Beneficence, and
• 4. Principle of Justice.
Respect for autonomy
• This principle establishes patient’s rights to choose what will be done to them .
• Patient has the right to the truth about their medical condition, the course of
disease , the treatment recommended and the alternative treatments available.
• Informed consent needs before treatment can be implemented. Physician must
follow confidentiality of patient’s medical condition.
• Principle of Nonmaleficence

• This principle states that no intentional harm or injury is done to the patient.
Either through act commission or omission. In common language ,we consider it
negligent if one imposes a careless or unreasonable risk of harm upon another.
• Principle of Beneficence
• Beneficence is the principle that health professionals should act in the best
interest of the patient. The responsibilities of physicians should be directed
towards the patients rather then directed at the financial wellbeing of the clinic.
Principle of justice
• Aristotle once said, “giving to each that which is his due”. Following the same the
physician must treat all his patients equally and in best of their capability.
• The following checklist can be utilised for teaching as well as assessing the
student.
• 1. communication to the patient. YES/NO
• A. communication an etiquettes
➢ Speaks softly and slowly
➢ Speaks in a simple way and in a language that he/she can understand.
➢ Avoids using medical terminology
➢ In the end sum up the instructions in three or four main points.
➢ Before the patient leaves encourages him/her to speak back what all she/he has
unserstood regarding the medication.
➢ B. Communication regarding the medication.
➢ Association with food.
➢ Dosing schedule.
➢ Route of administration.
➢ Medication technique.

➢ Information regarding side effects/withdrawal effect.