Comments on: Can bedside manner be taught, or is it something you’re born with?

By: Ajlouny

Ajlouny — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 04:11:00 +0000

Bedside manor I believe is part of a persons characteristic, but I believe can defiantly be taught. I only seek compassion from my doctor.

By: Kairol Rosenthal

Kairol Rosenthal — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 01:13:00 +0000

I read Chen’s article in the NYTimes. As a young adult cancer patient, the debate feels very important at first glance, but when I take a step back it sounds grandiose. I don’t care about a doctor’s reasons for being nice or a jerk: behaviors are a choice. The discussion of how hard it is for a doctor to be compassionate only seems to inflate their ego while slapping me in the face. Either act with compassion or don’t. And if they decide ultimately that they cannot, they needn’t worry, in the end I’ll still choose a good doctor over a nice one.

http://everythingchangesbook.com/

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 03:52:00 +0000

I wanted to say that I learned 'bedside manor', or as I prefer to call it
> 'how to talk and LISTEN to patients', from mentors. I watched doctors and
> nurses who were good at it and copied them. My first, and best, mentor was
> my physician father. From him I learned how to listen to patients, and to tailor
> my communication style to be compatible with the patient. From a chief
> resident I learned to say what are usually my final words to a patient, "Is
> there anything else I can do for you?" And then I just stand, or sit there
> for a few moments and wait. My patient usually dismisses me from the room,
> and hopefully never feels rushed or hurried.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 23:46:00 +0000

My biggest problem with this study (and the numerous compassion building exercises I’ve been made to attend) is the outcome measure.

The actual measure of bedside manner is patient feedback/assessment. Listening scores and internalized attitudes towards patients are intermediates. Patients don’t care what doctors say in the breakroom (at least as long as they don’t have to hear it). All they care about is feeling that the doctor cares about their concerns and that their condition is improving.

By: Rishi

Rishi — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 14:10:00 +0000

This really is an interesting topic. As a pre-med who will start medical school in about half a year, I always thought bedside manner was something we all inherently possessed at this point in our education. After all, doesn’t compassion manifest itself through acts of common sense? Then again, I won’t really know the true meaning until I’ve started my practice.

By: epadvocate

epadvocate — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 22:25:00 +0000

Kevin,

Thanks for bringing up the subject.

As you know, I always look to patients to pick up their share of the responsibility in the doctor-patient relationship.

Based on Dr. Chen’s article and the question about whether doctors truly can “learn” bedside manner, I posed the question to my readers… I invite your readers to provide their ideas for helping their doctors improve bedside manner: http://is.gd/hWpn

Your suggestions about looking patients in the eye, and sitting down to talk to them are a good start.

Trisha Torrey
Every Patient’s Advocate
http://patients.about.com

By: rosie

rosie — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 21:58:00 +0000

I believe that if every health care worker spent time being in the shoes of the patient we could see a dramatic change. Allow them to discuss and reflect.
Thanks for this post