Fifteen-minute consultation: Attachment as a model to understand and manage difficult doctor-parent relationships

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Updated: Feb 4, 2026

Assessing the Coherence of Parents' Short Narratives Regarding their Child Using the Five-Minute Speech Sample Procedure
07:56

Assessing the Coherence of Parents' Short Narratives Regarding their Child Using the Five-Minute Speech Sample Procedure

Published on: September 19, 2019

10.8K

Annie Swanepoel

    Archives of Disease in Childhood. Education and Practice Edition
    |September 30, 2018
    PubMed

    Insights

    Pediatricians can improve care for unwell children by understanding difficult parent interactions. Using attachment theory helps manage challenging doctor-parent dynamics for better child, family, and physician well-being.

    Area of Science:

    • Pediatrics
    • Psychology
    • Communication Studies

    Background:

    • Pediatricians frequently encounter challenging parent behaviors during child healthcare.
    • Difficult interactions range from parental neglect to overstating symptoms or refusing treatment.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To provide a framework based on attachment theory for managing difficult doctor-parent interactions.
    • To enhance pediatricians' ability to recognize, understand, and sensitively handle these challenging dynamics.

    Main Methods:

    • Application of attachment theory principles to doctor-parent communication.
    • Framework development for recognizing and responding to difficult parental behaviors.

    Main Results:

    • Attachment theory offers insights into understanding the roots of difficult parent behaviors.
    • A structured approach can improve the management of challenging interactions.

    Conclusions:

    • Implementing communication strategies informed by attachment theory can improve child health outcomes.
    • Enhanced doctor-parent communication benefits the child, family, and healthcare provider's well-being.

    Keywords:
    attachment theorycommunication styledifficult doctor-parent relationshipdifficult parentdifficult patient

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