The most powerful tool that a doctor possesses is their bedside manner.
Some doctors just have a certain way with them.
They put you at ease the moment you see their faces or hear their voices.
This isn’t always down to their years of experience either. It’s a people thing and some doctors are just great people people!
They smile, engage and make you feel better just by talking to them. They calm our fears and offer hope. Their strong communication is key.
They know how to manage the needs, wants and fears of their patients.
How?
They listen without interrupting (some research has found that it typically takes a doctor only 11 seconds to interrupt a patient!). They pay attention to detail. They don’t judge. They set expectations and explain timelines. They use the right language. They treat you as an equal partner in your care. They don’t rush you.
Sometimes a consultation can feel like a chat and conversation and you know they are on your side and fighting your corner.
It’s a mixture of informality and dignity (Silverman, 2012) and they seem to effortlessly create a memorable patient experience that exceed expectations (Mahdavi, 2020).
What affect’s a doctor’s bedside manner? It’s their body language, openness, presence, integrity, vocal tone, and attitude.
Demonstrating a good bedside manner involves remaining professional, focused, attentive, and empathetic. They treat the person, not the patient.
According to Dr Fleisher (2010), there are six pillars of a great bedside manner:
- compassion
- communication
- confidence
- character
- class
- comedy/charisma
For patients, the bedside manner and bedside manners of healthcare professionals matters. They matter enormously as they promote trust and healing.
It’s true that some doctors are full of arrogant disdain for the emotional life of their patients in the same vein as the self-absorbed and rude Dr. Gregory House. They might know their stuff but they can knock the stuffing out of your confidence and trust.
And this is what bedside manner is all about – communication, empathy and trust. It’s basically down to having good manners too.
If we can trust our doctors and have faith in them, that’s half the battle!
Elliott (2018) notes that
A good bedside manner reflects compassionate care….It involves concepts of kindness, personal warmth, concentration, attention, listening, engagement, seeking understanding, being empathetic, whilst offering respect and dignity.
We value doctors that make time for us, listen, care and support us in managing our health. We value those that are human. We love those with a sense of humour.
We value rapport and want doctors to put us at ease and handle difficult conversations with empathy and reassurance.
We value so much more besides!
A doctor’s bedside manner is key to the delivery of high-quality patient care.
Manners maketh doctors and are a key part of the duty of care.
As a cancer patient, you are more than likely dealing with high levels of stress, anxiety, and uncertainty so the people you speak to can make all the difference. If someone has a great bedside manner, this can make you feel more in control. If they haven’t, your stress only multiplies.
What we know is that if a doctor is rude and lacks the bedside skills this leads to a nocebo effect in which any sort of therapeutic value shrinks or evaporates: every word counts.
Bedside skills are part and parcel of the art of medicine and essential to good medical care.