Listening to Patients and Responding with Care: A Model for Teaching Communication Skills

Poor response to treatment: beyond medication

“… 8 In the various medical or surgical specialties, the health professional's influence is crucial to improving adherence, 9 , 10 and depends to a large extent on the physician's communication skills and his or her ability to listen and respond to the patient. 11 Other factors that can improve compliance are simplifying the treatment regimen, providing information and descriptions of a medication's possible side effects, encouraging social support, and developing psychoeducational programs. Patients with higher educational levels arc also more likely to comply with treatment.…”