Field Guide to the Difficult Patient Interview / Edition 2

by Frederic W. Platt MD, Geoffrey H. Gordon MD, FACP, FAAPP

Overview

Written by physicians skilled at coaching colleagues in physician-patient communication, this pocket guide presents practical strategies for handling a wide variety of difficult patient interviews. Each chapter presents a hypothetical scenario, describes effective communication techniques for each phase of the interaction, and identifies pitfalls to avoid. The presentation includes examples of physician-patient dialogue, illustrations showing body language, and key references.

This edition includes new chapters on caring for physician-patients, communicating with colleagues, disclosing unexpected outcomes and medical errors, shared decision making and informed consent, and teaching communication skills. Other new chapters describe clinical attitudes such as patience, curiosity, and hope.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780781747745
Publisher:	LWW
Publication date:	03/30/2004
Series:	Field Guide Series
Edition description:	Second
Pages:	320
Product dimensions:	4.50(w) x 7.50(h) x (d)

Table of Contents

	Preface to the First Edition	ix
	Preface	xiii
	Foreword	xv
	Acknowledgments	xix
Part I	The Efficient Interview
1	Basic Interviewing Technique	3
2	Listening	14
3	Building Rapport: EMPATHY, the Universal Tool	21
4	Understanding Nonverbal Communication	30
5	The Primacy of Symptoms	37
6	The Data Base	43
7	Culture and Language	48
Part II	The Efficient Interview: Dealing with Patient Emotions
8	Sadness and Fear	57
9	Anger	64
10	Ambivalence	74
Part III	Explaining
11	Patient Education	85
12	Giving Bad News	91
13	Comforting the Grieving Family: Survivors of a Patient Death	100
14	Shared Decision-Making and Informed Consent	106
Part IV	The Clinical Attitude
15	Patience	115
16	Curiosity	118
17	"OK" and "Wow": The Short Words	122
18	Self-awareness: What Are You Thinking Now?	127
19	Hope	131
Part V	Dealing with a Difficult Relationship
20	Those Dreaded Phrases	137
21	Acknowledging Difficult Relationships and Interactions	141
22	Understanding the Meaning of Illness	146
23	Addressing Disagreements About Diagnosis or Therapy	150
24	Trust and Distrust	157
25	Establishing Boundaries	161
26	Avoiding Seduction	166
27	Asking for Help	170
28	Clinician-to-Clinician Communication: Talking to Colleagues	173
29	Doctors Firing Patients--Patients Firing Doctors	178
Part VI	Illness and Loss
30	Chronic Pain and Suffering	185
31	Somatization	190
32	The Transition from Disease-Based Care to Palliative Care	198
33	End-of-Life Discussions: Advance Care Plans and DNR Orders	203
34	Being with a Dying Patient	210
35	Talking with Families of Seriously Ill Patients	215
Part VII	Who's in Charge Here? Behavioral Health Risks
36	Assessing Risk Behaviors	221
37	Nonadherence	226
38	Violence	233
39	Alcohol Use	237
40	Sex	241
Part VIII	Puzzling Problems
41	The List-Maker	247
42	The Patient's Companion	249
43	Confusion: Communicating with the Cognitively Impaired Patient	255
44	The Patient Bearing Literature	259
45	Distant Medicine	263
46	When Your Patient Is a Doctor	267
47	Disclosing Unexpected Outcomes and Errors	271
48	Coaching Communication Skills	277
Appendix	Selected Readings for the Entire Text	283
	Subject Index	285

Editorial Reviews

Reviewer: Sally Ling, M.D.;FACP(University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine)
Description: This is the second edition of a book that aims to enhance effective patient care by fostering good interpersonal and communication skills in all physicians. Skills for managing the difficult patient interview can be learned and used productively. This book was originally published in 1999.
Purpose: There is increased recognition that effective patient-physician communication is fundamental to the practice of medicine. The teaching of communication skills and assessment of acquired competency is now part of the curriculum at both medical school and residency levels. This book provides specific strategies for handling difficult situations.
Audience: The book is ideal for all physicians in training as well as practicing physicians wanting to improve their skills in dealing with more difficult situations.
Features: The strategies used to manage different issues are illustrated by realistic conversations. This method highlights the intended teaching points in a tangible way. The format enables quick reading and the summary points at the end of each chapter listed under "Pitfalls to Avoid" are quite helpful.
Assessment: This should be an instrumental resource in teaching medical students and physicians in training the important art of communication that is paramount to effective patient care.

Doody's Review Service

3 Stars from Doody