pink-book

DOCTOR TO PATIENT: THE INTERPERSONAL CHANNEL
Interpersonal channels have shown great success in delivering credible messages that
produce desired results. When the one-to-one message comes from the doctor, people are
especially likely to listen. Good communication between health care providers and
individuals is so important to achieving positive health outcomes that the Health
Communication chapter of Healthy People 2010 includes an objective to “increase the
proportion of persons who report that their health care providers have satisfactory
communication skills” (objective 11-6). In addition, the chapter on cancer includes an
objective to “increase the proportion of physicians and dentists who counsel their at-risk
patients about tobacco-use cessation, physical activity, and cancer screening”
(objective 3-10).
STAGE 1
Examples of the results of physician-patient communication include:
• Doctor-patient communication has been associated with improved recovery from
surgery, shortened hospital stays, lower blood pressure and blood sugar, and better
health status.
• People who quit smoking in response to physician advice are more likely to make
repeated attempts to quit and are more likely to remain off cigarettes.
• Women in a national survey said a major reason they never had a mammogram was,
“My doctor never recommended one.” When a Massachusetts program increased the
number of physicians who recommended mammography, screening rates also rose.
• Most people in a national survey said their preferred source of information about
prescription medicines is their physician. When patients and physicians communicate,
compliance improves.
Making Health Communication Programs Work 29