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Communication with the elderly psychiatric outpatient
J M Lesser1, S Beller, H Harmon
1Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas-Houston Health Science Center, Houston, USA.
Texas Medicine
|November 22, 1997
Summary
Effective communication is vital for elderly psychiatric patients. This study explores doctor-patient miscommunication and offers strategies to improve information exchange for better geropsychiatric care.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric Psychiatry
- Clinical Communication
Background:
- Elderly psychiatric patients present unique communication challenges.
- Effective diagnosis in geropsychiatry depends on accurate verbal information exchange.
- Miscommunication can lead to suboptimal treatment and polypharmacy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the causes of communication barriers between doctors and elderly psychiatric patients.
- To propose practical strategies for enhancing doctor-patient information exchange in geropsychiatry.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative analysis of communication challenges in geropsychiatric settings.
- Review of existing literature on doctor-patient communication.
Main Results:
- Identified key factors contributing to miscommunication in geropsychiatric care.
- Developed a set of actionable recommendations for improving communication.
Conclusions:
- Addressing communication barriers is crucial for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment in elderly psychiatric patients.
- Simple interventions can significantly improve information exchange and patient outcomes.