Problems You May Face in Your Next Doctor's Visit

The nurse took Diane's blood pressure and temperature and wrote some notes about her symptoms and medical history. Soon the doctor would be in for the examination.

Would the doctor make a quick diagnosis? Would she learn what to do about her problem? Or would she leave, wondering if her health issues had been correctly diagnosed?

Patients often leave the doctor's office feeling their health concerns have not been addressed. That's because, sometimes, neither the doctor nor the patient can break through the barriers that hinder effective doctor-patient communication.

Some of those barriers are caused by the doctor and some by the patients themselves, but all make doctor-patient communication more difficult. Here are some problems you may face in your next visit to the doctor.

Problems caused by the patient generally fall into two categories: (1) a reluctance to share personal information, and (2) an inability to accurately describe their symptoms.

First, patients are understandably reluctant to discuss some of their symptoms. Many medical problems are personal, requiring individuals to talk about their body in terms they rarely discuss with others. A male with erectile dysfunction, for example, will often feel uncomfortable discussing the problem with a woman nurse or doctor.

The second problem is that many patients cannot accurately describe their symptoms. They frequently make vague references to aches and pains ("I don't feel good") without identifying the specific complaint ("I get nauseated five minutes after I eat").

One technique that helps: describe your symptoms to yourself before meeting with the doctor. Be as specific as possible and have a list of specific complaints.

Even if the patient is well prepared, other problems can develop - those created by the doctor themselves. Even the best doctors face barriers in working with patients. These include (1) medical jargon, (2) insensitivity, and (3) premature judgments.

The medical community uses jargon unique to the field. Proficiency with the jargon increases over time, so that experienced medical personnel use the technical language almost subconsciously.

That is an asset within the field, but it is not conducive to effective communication between a doctor and a patient. Words that easily roll off the tongue of a doctor or nurse may sound like a strange, multi-syllable foreign language to the patient. The patient must ask for a "translation" that restates the information in simple language.

Insensitivity is another problem. Doctors often interrupt their patients, change topics, and put off answering a patient's questions. That process can be frustrating, but - for the sake of your own health - you can not be overwhelmed by the doctor's authority. Insist on explaining your symptoms.

A bigger problem is the possibility that medical personnel will pre-judge a condition and - as a result - not conduct a thorough examination with a patient. Such problems frequently occur when doctors see a number of patients with similar symptoms.

An outbreak of a new flu virus, for example, will result in dozens of patients visiting the doctor with flu-like symptoms. Most patients will have the new virus, but some may have different (and possibly more serious) problems. If the doctor says, "You've got what's going around," but you have doubts, insist on a more thorough examination.

Ultimately, the patient bears some responsibility for a successful visit to the doctor. Don't be intimidated by the authority of the doctor. Don't leave until you feel that the doctor fully understands your problem.

References

Klinzing, D, & Klinzing, D. (1985). Communication for allied health care professionals. Dubuque, Iowa: William C. Brown.

Powell, L., & Amsbary, J. (2006). Interviewing: Situations and Contexts. Boston: Allyn & Bacon.

Waitzkin, H. (1985). Information giving in medical care. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 26, 81-101.

West, C., & Frankel, R. (1991). Miscommunication in medicine. In N. Coupland, H. Giles, & J. Wiemann (Eds.), Miscommunication and problematic talk (pp. 166-194). Newbury, CA: Sage.