The Doctor-Patient Relationship: Headed for Impasse or Improvement?

Deterioration and doctor-patient rapport may be due to increased consumerism, a rise in medical technology, and a societal trend towards deprofessionalization. Increased emphasis on doctor-patient rapport during medical training, closer supervision of studied-patient interactions by physicians trained in the biopsychosocial approach, continuing medical education courses to update the practitioner's interpersonal skills, and a change in medical school admission policies are recommended. Increased consumer involvement in individual doctor-patient relationships and in the health care structure may result in greater patient satisfaction and improved health care.