IMPROVING PATIENT CARE AND PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN DOCTORS: ROLE OF EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION IN PATIENT CARE

Abstract

ABSTRACT Over the last few decades the health care has tremendously improved thanks to continuous advancements in the medical field. Besides latest technologies, new therapeutic agents, biomedical research, improving prognoses and sophisticated surgical techniques, the art of practicing medicine itself has also changed in a positive way. Due to latest information technology, the patients and their carers of current era are more knowledgeable about various health problems and the ways these can be managed effectively. This has resulted in high expectations from doctors which occasionally may not be realistic. These factors have increased the responsibilities of modern time doctors. In addition to the need for being up to date with the latest medical developments, they also need to focus and improve skills which are vitally important in patient care such as effective communication, ensuring continuity of care and managing patients through team approach. There is a desperate need to improve these skills for three main reasons; to improve quality of care, to build public confidence in doctors and most importantly to reduce the increasing number of complaints against doctors. Key words: Quality of Health Care (MeSH), Quality Improvement (MeSH), Delivery of Health Care (MeSH), Health Communication (MeSH), Patient Care (MeSH), Continuity of Patient Care (MeSH),