Assertive communication skills in family medicine

Abstract:

Communication in medicine is an extremely broad area that includes the relationship between the health professional, the patient and his family, but also communication among members of the medical team. As family physicians, we are not always able to choose interlocutors (patients), but we can therefore choose the way we will convey the message in order for it to achieve its goal. It is possible to recognize four types of behavior in interaction with others: aggressive, passive, passive-aggressive, and assertive. The skill of assertive communication in family medicine is not an acquired ability, but a skill that we as health professionals should learn and practice regularly. Good communication between family medicine practitioners and patients, as well as between health professionals, is the foundation of successful diagnosis and treatment.

Key words:
assertive communication; family medicine