Reflections concerning communication for health purposes

Abstract

Since life and information are closely-connected concepts, health communication is necessarily an essential skill in medical education. Communication, as ethics, is a real behaviour. It is an attitude and must therefore be learned simultaneously with the clinical and therapeutic concepts, and should be applied whenever and wherever the physician acts. People looking for health assistance need a close, warm and efficient approach from their doctors, in addition to technical support. Disease is such a difficult experience that everybody looks forward to feeling understood, as well as to receiving professional support. And friendly communication is the best medication we can, and must, give people.