[Teaching the patient to comply with his treatment. A training course for physicians]

A teaching programme on verbal doctor-patient interaction is presented, an often neglected topic. Based on taped recordings of their own consultations the participants discussed in seminars of some ten hours the problems that arose during the conversation with patients. Difficulties were noted with listening to the patient, to the understanding of his real needs, to the use of adequate language and the evaluation of the patients' perception. A guideline lists all points to be considered in a conversation about a prescription of medication. The review of ones own conversations is an extremely efficacious stimulus for education pointing out deviations from the prescription scheme to the doctor concerned that he has himself elaborated.