ESTABLISHING THE DOCTOR-PATIENT-RELATIONSHIP - SCIENCE, ART, OR COMPETENCE

Establishing and sustaining strong doctor-patient relationships is an important aim in clinical practice, since it is through these relation ships that the effectiveness of our work as healers is mediated. In re cent years, a research literature emerging from the application of soc ial science to medicine is beginning to highlight certain specific phy sician behaviors, especially those involved in doctor-patient communic ation, as actions of considerable importance to both physicians and pa tients. Successful physicians will further understand that our patient s and their families also have high expectations for additional behavi ors of physicians, particularly those recognized in the popular cultur e as professional, respectful of patients' circumstances, and supporti ve of patients' efforts. To the extent that physicians make an explici t effort to understand and appreciate the <<life-world>> of patients, and even to modify medical recommendations in order to maximize the me aningfulness and goodness-of-fit of these recommendations, the ''art'' of medicine also becomes an essential part of routine clinical practi ce. In the final analysis, new science, art, and behavioral competence are all required for strengthening doctor-patient relationships.