Health Psychology - Communication

Question 1

Difference now and before in communication between doctor and patient?

Answer 1

There is now mutual relationship between doctor and patient, with participation and shared decision making. Good communication has become increasingly important

Question 2

Types of doctor-patient relationships

Answer 2

1. Default (patient-low, doctor-low)
2. Paternalism (patient-low, doctor-high)
3. Consumerism (patient-high, doctor-low)
4. Mutuality (patient-high, doctor-high)

Question 3

Advantages of a good doctor-patient relationship:

Answer 3

(Health care professional)
More accurate and and complete information about symptoms

(For patients)
- Better comprehension of medical information
- Better physical, psychological, and daily functioning

(For both)
- Better adherence
- Better patient and doctor satisfaction
- Faster recovery

(4x better..)

Question 4

Common mistakes in communication (health care provider)

Answer 4

• Use of jargon
• Baby talk
• Non-person treatment
• Stereotypes of patients*

*(e.g. giving refugees less information because of the assumption that they can’t understand it or not recognizing female heart-patients because it’s less common in women)

Question 5

When health care providers communicate with patients with a low SES they often..

Answer 5

… provide less information
… provide less positive socio-emotional support
… have a more directive and less participatory communication style

Question 6

Issues in communication (patients)

Answer 6

1. Neuroticism (leads to exaggeration of symptoms)
2. Anxiety (causes to less attention)
3. Low health literacy (difficulties in understanding)
4. Embarrassment (may lead to not reporting important information)

Question 7

Patients with a low SES often…

Answer 7

… ask less questions
… express their feeling less
… give their opinion less

Question 8

Non-native patients often…

Answer 8

… experience language difficulties
… don’t ask questions when something is unclear
… do not clearly express their expectations towards the doctors

Question 9

The aim of communications skills training:

Answer 9

1. For health care professionals to communicate better with their patients
2. For patients to communicate better with their health care professionals

Question 10

Communication skills for health care professional (examples)

Answer 10

• Welcoming and introducing yourself
• Listening
• Expressing empathy
• Asking open questions
• Aks questions about the patients feeling
• Paying attention to non-verbal signals
• Communication with significant others of the patients
• Using motivational interviewing

Question 11

Communications skills for patients (examples)

Answer 11

• Information seeking and verifying behavior (e.g. asking questions)
• Assertive statements (e.g. articulating treatment preferences)
• Expressing emotions of concerns

Question 12

Other useful technique to enhance communication for patients?

Answer 12

Visual tools (e.g. talking boards)

Question 13

Motivational interviewing (definition)

Answer 13

A collaborative conversation style for strengthening a person’s own motivation and commitment to change (= evidence based!!!)

Question 14

Tasks of motivational interviewing

Answer 14

1. Engage (trough sensitive conversations with patients)
2. Focus (on whats important to the patient regarding behavior, health, and welfare)
3. Evoke (the patients personal motivation for change)
4. Negotiate (plans)

Question 15

Motivation often means…

Answer 15

… resolving conflicting and ambivalent feelings and thoughts

Question 16

Change talk (motivational interviewing)

Answer 16

Are statements made by the patients that indicate that they are moving towards making a positive change in a problematic behavior

Question 17

Opposite of change talk?

Answer 17

Sustain talk

Question 18

What is motivational interviewing not?

Answer 18

A way of tricking people into changing their behavior. It is a way of activating their own motivation and resources for change