Rapport as a factor in the diagnosis and treatment of physical illness

If one fully recognizes that a patient's physical illness belongs to him, one is then led to believe that the patient has a crucial part in his treatment process-that he has information, thoughts, feelings, and experiences related to his illness that are important to diagnosis and treatment. The art of engaging the patient's willingness to share that information, and effectively encouraging his involvement in such a way as to maximize his benefits from a prescribed treatment regimen, may be defined as rapport-and it is crucial to each phase of the diagnostic and treatment process.