Aspects of Communication Between Patients and Doctors: An Analysis of the Discourse in Medical Interviews

Abstract

The transcripts of tape-recorded interviews of pediatric endocrinologists and patients with Turner's syndrome and their parents were reviewed in consultation with child psychoanalysts in order to evaluate certain aspects of communication between patients and doctors. The transcripts showed that the doctors often talked at cross purposes with the parents and their patients, evading emotional issues in favor of quasi-scientific explanations which the patients and parents did not understand. Parts of the discourse, at times unconscious, have been shown to be of great importance as means of communication. Reviewing the transcripts of the doctor-patients discourse is an excellent way of improving one's therapeutic communication with the patient. The same material can be used for teaching purposes.