Communication skills for the health care professional: concepts, practice, and evidence

Contents include: health communications and quality care; principles of human communication; the nature of therapeutic communications; cultural similarities and differences and communication; the pervasive role of confirmation and empathy; communications that contribute to trust and mistrust of the providers; the art and skillful use of questions; therapeutic use of silence and pauses; the impact and limitations of self-disclosure; the proper placement of advisement; reflections and interpretations; the judicious use of confrontations, orders, and commands; communicating with patients with low literacy; communicating with patients with chronic and/or life-threatening illness; communicating with patients in crisis; communicating effectively with patients displaying significant negative or resistive coping responses; communications within and across healthcare provider groups; conflict in the healthcare system: understanding communications and resolving dispute; family dynamics and communications with patients' significant others; the privileged nature of patient and provider communications: the issue of patients' rights; the privileged nature of patient and provider communications: issues of confidentiality, anonymity, and privacy; health communications to enhance behavioural change; internet use and communications of patients and providers; altering systems of care to enhance healthcare communications.