Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 28, 2026

Using Visual and Narrative Methods to Achieve Fair Process in Clinical Care
Published on: February 16, 2011
Communication skills to improve patient satisfaction and quality of care
1Department of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, USA. auguste.fortin@yale.edu
Abstract:
While clinicians face increasing time pressure in caring for patients, communication with the patient can suffer. Communication is especially important in caring for the increasingly culturally diverse patient population in the United States. Different values, beliefs, and attitudes about health, illness, and health care can affect illness outcomes. These are best understood through dialogue. Patient-centered communication skills are associated with improved health outcomes, improved patient and clinician satisfaction, and less risk of malpractice suits. This paper reviews techniques to efficiently incorporate patient-centered communication into the medical encounter, with emphasis on interacting with patients of different cultures.
Related Concept Videos
Techniques of Therapeutic Communication II: Focusing, Paraphrasing, and Summarizing
This therapeutic technique can also be used when a patient brings up pertinent information during a health-related conversation. The...
Techniques of therapeutic communication I: Active Listening, Sharing Observations, Validation, and Using Touch
Therapeutic communication is not the same as social interaction. Social interaction has no goal or purpose and consists of casual information sharing, whereas therapeutic communication has a plan or purpose for the conversation. Therapeutic...
Patient-centered Care
Barriers to Effective Communication II
Cultural barriers:
Differences in values, beliefs, religion, knowledge, and tradition can significantly impact communication. Awareness of nonverbal cues is critical, especially when conversing with a patient from a different culture. What appears appropriate in one culture may be inappropriate in another.
Semantic barriers:
As a result of their tendency to use...
Nurses' Legal Responsibilities II
Communication between nurses and patients...
Role of Communication in the Nursing Process II: Planning and Implementation