Introduction

‘The first step is to become a caring person – the second step is to find ways to communicate this caring on an everyday basis as well as in times of extreme crisis’ – Hoffer Gittel

Building a trusting relationship with your patient can lead to increased accuracy, efficiency, supportiveness, satisfaction, and partnership/collaboration. It promotes adherence and prevents misunderstanding and conflict.

Note: this is especially true in specialist medicine, where consultations are short in nature. Developing rapport is essential as it enables the patient to feel comfortable disclosing personal issues with an unfamiliar person after only a brief introduction.

Where does building the relationship fit into the consultation?

• Relationship building: a continuous thread that occurs throughout the course of the interview; the cement that holds the consultation together

* Please insert diagram of consult structure showing longitudinal relationship building*

What are we trying to achieve by building the doctor-patient relationship?

1. Develop rapport: so your patient feels understood, valued, and supported
2. Establish trust: the foundation for a therapeutic relationship
3. Foster a safe environment: maximizes accurate/efficient information gathering, explanation, and planning
4. Enable supportive counselling
5. Develop continuing long-term relationship
6. Involve your patient: so they feel comfortable participating in the consultation

Silverman, J., Kurtz, S., & Draper, J. (2013). Skills for Communicating with Patients (Thrid Edit). London: Radcliffe Publishing.