[The importance of communication between physicians and patients]

The importance of communication between physicians and patients Abstract. The communication between physician and patient is the basement of good medical care. That is why communication skills are seen as a core competence of medical professionals. Communication has an impact on medical treatment and patient outcomes, creates confidence and prevents medical errors. Both, patient and physician centred communication, enables the physician to establish a diagnosis by history taking alone in up to 80 % of all consultations. Alongside collecting medical information, disclosure of complex information or breaking bad news play an important role in medical communication. Good communication not only leads to better patients' and relatives' satisfaction but may also improve their outcome.