Effective communication is integral to the doctor-patient relationship. Unfortunately, it’s not always observed. Communication breakdowns are not uncommon in the doctor-patient relationship. Several factors contribute to this problem, and a common one is doctors failing to actively listen to their patients.
Here is how it happens:
Early interruptions
Some doctors usually interrupt patients. A study on medical visits published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine found that a physician interrupted a patient after an average of 11 seconds.
Thus, when a patient is making their initial statement, they get interrupted quickly, which can significantly redirect the conversation. This can lead to a physician missing out on crucial context or secondary complaints that could help them offer the accepted standard of care.
Such interruption is typically driven by time limits. Nonetheless, the same study also showed that uninterrupted patients took a median of six seconds to state their concern. Therefore, when a patient is left to speak freely, it doesn’t take much time that could delay other schedules.
Dismissing symptoms
A healthcare provider can dismiss, minimize or invalidate a patient’s symptoms without a proper medical evaluation. This is called medical gaslighting. For example, they can blame the symptoms on anxiety, age, weight or gender. Or can refuse to investigate further when standard screenings come back “normal,” dismissing the patient’s complaints.
Medical gaslighting often stems from rushed appointments, burnout, cognitive biases and systemic pressures.
Screen distractions
Eye contact is important during a medical visit. It allows a doctor to notice non-verbal cues that help them assess emotional states and pick up on unspoken concerns. A doctor who overly focuses on the screen may miss out on important non-verbal cues.
Many diagnostic errors could have been avoided if the physician actively listened to the patient. If a doctor failed to listen to you, resulting in harm, you can hold them liable for their negligence.