How to improve communication between a patient and a doctor. I. Shapovalyants, PhD, Moscow, 2014 Many people are familiar with the situation when, being in a doctor’s office for a consultation, we feel uncomfortable. If, in addition to poor health and anxiety, the doctor’s unfriendly attitude, haste and negative tone are added, then you can only feel worse after the consultation. Even confident and well-informed patients cannot always talk about medical problems and ask the doctor questions. During a medical consultation, many people feel very vulnerable. They often fear that if they disagree with the doctor or ask questions, it will lead to negative consequences in subsequent treatment. As a result, patients refrain from asking many questions or sharing opinions, and ultimately, are not always able to make the right medical decisions. But the good news is that the vast majority of doctors understand the importance of dialogue with the patient and devote enough time to the conversation. At the same time, 10-15 minute appointments allocated for consultation in a clinic may not always be effective in helping people. So is a perfect doctor-patient partnership possible? Psychologists, with their expertise in communication and changing disruptive behavior, are available to help with this problem. They can work with patients to help them prepare for medical appointments and interventions and reduce anxiety and worry. Just a few minutes of conversation with a psychologist will help patients prepare for their meeting with a doctor in order to make the most of the allotted time to solve their problem. Here are some simple tips for patients: Come to your appointment prepared. The Internet provides such an opportunity! Then the dialogue can be much more constructive. Prepare all available examination data and notes from previous consultations or hospitalizations. Make a list of questions that you want to discuss with your doctor. Discuss alternative treatments and recent advances in the area of ​​interest to you. Ask for a follow-up meeting if you have any questions or doubts. Experience and recent research in the communication field show that effective communication directly affects positive medical outcomes. Good communication with the physician ensures patient commitment to treatment, symptom relief, pain control, and patient satisfaction..