Description

Book Synopsis
Good communication is necessary for good clinical care, but defining good communication has been surprisingly difficult and controversial. Many current ideas that identify good communication with certain communication behaviours, or ''skills'', were ethically inspired to help doctors see beyond disease to the whole patient. However, promoting specific behaviours is problematic because communication is contextually dependent. In recent decades, observational research into practitioner-patient relationships has begun to provide a scientific basis for the field, identifying patients'' vulnerability and practitioners'' authority as defining features of fundamentally asymmetric clinical relationships. Future educators can learn from research that explores the judgments that experienced practitioners make when they manage communication dilemmas arising from this asymmetry. In future, instead of the current emphasis on teaching communication behaviours, educators could provide practitioners with knowledge about relationships to inform those judgments, while addressing the attitudes and values that motivate and guide their communication.

Clinical Communication

    Product form

    A Paperback by Peter Salmon

    £21.54

    Includes FREE delivery

    Order before 4pm today for delivery by Thu 3 Sep 2026.

      Trusted by thousands of customers. See 2,385+ Customer Reviews

      View other formats and editions of Clinical Communication by Peter Salmon

      Book details

      Publisher Cambridge University Press
      Published 2/28/2025
      ISBN-13 9781009343121
      978-1009343121
      ISBN-10 1009343122
      Also in:
      Doctor / patient relationship

      Description

      Book Synopsis
      Good communication is necessary for good clinical care, but defining good communication has been surprisingly difficult and controversial. Many current ideas that identify good communication with certain communication behaviours, or ''skills'', were ethically inspired to help doctors see beyond disease to the whole patient. However, promoting specific behaviours is problematic because communication is contextually dependent. In recent decades, observational research into practitioner-patient relationships has begun to provide a scientific basis for the field, identifying patients'' vulnerability and practitioners'' authority as defining features of fundamentally asymmetric clinical relationships. Future educators can learn from research that explores the judgments that experienced practitioners make when they manage communication dilemmas arising from this asymmetry. In future, instead of the current emphasis on teaching communication behaviours, educators could provide practitioners with knowledge about relationships to inform those judgments, while addressing the attitudes and values that motivate and guide their communication.

      Recently viewed products

      © 2026 Book Curl

        • American Express
        • Apple Pay
        • Diners Club
        • Discover
        • Google Pay
        • Maestro
        • Mastercard
        • PayPal
        • Shop Pay
        • Union Pay
        • Visa

        Login

        Forgot your password?

        Don't have an account yet?
        Create account