"Tell me about yourself": The patient-centered interview

The following article initiates a series on "Words That Make a Difference." . Developed under the sponsorship of the American Academy on Physician and Patient, the series will focus on the language physicians use when they tal k with patients. Although clinicians understand how important it is to comm unicate effectively with patients, they often have difficulty knowing exact ly what the "best words" are for making the most of each patient interactio n. Drawing on careful observation and research results, the authors of this series of articles have identified words and expressions that have proven particularly poweful as tools for understanding patients and helping them m anage their illnesses effectively. We are interested in knowing what reader s think of the series, and in learning about other uses of language that re aders have found important and helpful.