Pharmafile Logo

The power of the internet

December 24, 2019 | Dialogue, HCP, health 

Can HCPs help patients by listening more?

The relationship between healthcare professional (HCP) and patient is changing; patients no longer rely on their HCP as the only source of information, trusting everything they say as gospel. Things have changed; people are more open and willing to talk about their health issues and the internet offers us a wealth of information we never could have imagined. That some sources are far from reliable doesn’t seem to matter.

For HCPs assessing the depth and accuracy of knowledge and understanding is no mean feat. HCPs have been grappling with this for years, so it is not so much the information patients come armed with but the mindset that accompanies it.

So how can they be prepared for patients armed with prior research? One simple way of acknowledging patient’s prior research and for HCPs to gauge the level of concern would be to ask them about their symptoms and how they feel in their own words – going beyond critical inquiry (the cornerstone of clinical best practice), giving patients the room to tell the stories they need to.1

The skill comes not only in opening up dialogue in a 10-minute appointment but also in respecting that it is their story, told in their words and through their language, not those of a qualified HCP. Through respect and compassion HCPs have the power to change the perception their patients have of the HCP–patient relationship moving it from adult–child to adult–adult.

As ill health – in particular serious illness – often makes people feel powerless; telling them, in their own words, there is an aspect of their lives they are still able to control.1 When we feel in control our ability to retain and absorb information improves, making the sharing of information with the HCP more valuable. But more than that, we all feel better when we know someone is listening.

1. Shapiro J. Illness narratives: reliability, authenticity and the empathic witness. BMJ Journals 2011;37(2)

This content was provided by Page & Page Health

Company Details

 Latest Content from  Page & Page Health 

The concordance conundrum: the art of active listening

The art of active listening explores the links between effective communication and better patient concordance and medical outcomes, why many HCPs still overestimate their ability to communicate effectively and the...

The concordance conundrum: understanding the complexities of behaviour change

Understanding behaviour change looks at the six fundamental steps required to change human behaviour and discusses why HCPs need to start here if concordance is to be improved.

The concordance conundrum: creating space for open dialogue

Growing numbers of patients want a partnership model with their HCP, whereby both parties are equally involved in the decision-making process. This model has been linked with an increase in...

The concordance conundrum: the tech divide

COVID-19 resulted in the rapid adoption of virtual consultations; while they offer increased accessibility and convenience for some, are they really all they are cracked up to be? Consultations in...

Improving patient concordance: where does industry fit in?

What’s in a name? explores the idea that those healthcare organisations that develop tools and support structures to improve concordance will be at an advantage when it comes to product...

The concordance conundrum: the value of improving patient experience

This is the first in a series of articles where we explore how the current climate presents companies with a multitude of opportunities to improve communication between healthcare organisations and...

The Pivot

In times of uncertainty it is critical for businesses to take action to protect their brand image and longevity.

Communicating through video

It's likely that video is about to replace a lot of your face-to-face appointments.

Could coronavirus turn us all into online gamers?

As businesses gauge the potential impact of coronavirus (COVID-19), with a sense of fear and pessimism causing a dampening of economic activity and suspension of the stock market, the healthcare...

Love – it really does make the world go around

No two people are the same nor as individuals are we particularly predictable – we might like to think we are because at some point in time someone decided that...