Does Communication with Consumers and Carers need to Improve?

Abstract

Good communication between consumers and health professionals is fundamental to health care and a mechanism to ensure safe, effective treatment. There is growing recognition of the value of improving communication and increasing people's participation in health. This is reflected in research into interventions such health literacy interventions, self-management programs, written information, new communication technologies, empathetic communication styles and the involvement of family caregivers. This chapter provides a rationale for the need to improve communication between healthcare professionals and patients by identifying the nature and extent of communication problems, and the impact of..