Bh 1002 Reflection

The duty of a doctor is to treat patients, however, I believe it is of paramount importance that a doctor has good interpersonal skills and can easily understand the concerns and fears of a person. It is crucial also that a doctor is apt at communicating appropriately with a patient as well and can help them fully understand their illness. Many aspects of the ‘BH 1002’ module have aided me in my future role as a doctor. Firstly, the S.P.I.K.E.S model I learned about in the lectures will benefit me immensely. The S.P.I.K.E.S model, put forward by Dr Robert Buckman, illustrates the importance of health literacy and explicitly states that patients cannot give informed consent unless they fully understand the implications of the treatment and/or medicines which they will receive.

Next, this essay will discuss the idea of professionalism, which was highlighted in our

However, I now understand the necessity for a patient to be in a safe and private environment before any of their medical information is discussed. The E.P.E.C (Education for Physicians on End-of-life Care) participants’ handbook delves into the various aspects of a patient’s consultation with a doctor (Emanuel LL, von Gunten CF, Ferris FD, 1999). This handbook stresses the importance of creating “an environment conducive to effective communication.” It highlights the need for adequate time for a consultation and comfortable seating to be present for the patient. I believe that a patient’s sense of security in a doctor’s presence will put them at ease and make the delivery of possibly upsetting news easier to cope with. The handbook finally demonstrates an uninterrupted environment in which a patient can be the sole focus of the doctor for an allocated amount of time and I think this is important so the patient will feel justly attended