How can pediatricians and parents communicate more effectively?

Answer 1

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Thank for the question.

A good bedside manner works wonders for a nervous parent with a sick child. This helps them relax patient.
Encourage parents and children to write down their questions.
Let them know that you are working as a team to help their child.
Be honest and a good listener, especially for the new parents.
Do not let the insurance company or other doctors dictate how you should treat your patient. Give the parents all the information and let them decide the cost.
Keep your hand off the door knob when you finish examining the patient. This makes the parent feel rushed and insignificant.
Apologize for making them wait

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Answer 2

By straight out telling the parents the honest truth.

Answer 3

If the pediatrician wasn't always in such a rush to get to her next appointment, it would make asking questions a lot more easier. I really like my pediatrician, but when I take my baby daughter in for well visits, she doesn't spend a lot of time with us.

Answer 4

For me, my ability to communicate well with my daughters' pediatrician has to do wtih the environment that they foster in their offices. It's a very busy practice but awesomely, the doctors are never rushed and really take their time to explain things.

Because I don't feel as though I am being rushed, I can phrase my questions carefully and exactly to be sure that I'll get the information that I need. Because the doctors don't rush you out the door, time is given to thoughtfully and specifically answer questions. Plus, they take the time to ask questions about things that I hadn't thought to address.

Answer 5

by not rushing parents, asking questions and NEVER acting like a question asked is below you, not your problem, stupid etc...no matter how simple/paranoid it is or how many thousands of times you've been asked that this week

Answer 6

It would be nice if Pediatricians remembered that us parents didn't go to school for however many years to learn all about different kinds of sicknesses. And, we also don't know what alot of the medical terms for things are. It would be nice to be spoken to in a language that I understand. It would be nice to not have eyes rolled at me when I take my child in because of a cough. If something is not making since to me, then I ask questions. If it doesn't make since to the Dr, they should ask questions. First time parents don't always know what needs to be told to a Dr. They don't know what is important information. The Dr needs to ask more specifics after the general questions.

Answer 7

Too often, parents leave thinking that they are stupid because they didn't understand the answer to their question or pediatricians fear giving parents too much information and overwhelming them. The best thing that parents and pediatricians can do is take more time with each other. For parents to stop assuming that their questions are stupid or not worth the doctor's time and for doctors to always ask if there are any questions and take a full minute or more of silence to show the parents that he/she will take the time to listen. I am a biologist, a human biologist and have refrained from asking a question once or twice because I thought that it was silly and would be a waste of time. I have a really good pediatrician who always takes as much time as we need but I still felt silly. Most of the time, the silly questions are either important or some needed confidence boost, a reminder that I'm not messing my kids up too much. The bottom line, as it always is with communication, is taking a little extra time to listen, even when there isn't much to listen to.

Source(s):

Mom of two (32 weeks pregnant with number three) and biologist who really doesn't know as much as she thinks she should.

Answer 8

oooo, good. i've been waiting to tell someone what i think when i go into the docs office! specially when it concerns my son. first things first. the people you have working in your office, makes the WHOLE first impression of YOU and your office! (we deal with them more than you normally) granted, the way your office looks makes a difference. but i have left several doctors, because the staff was just incrediable. you feel like you are a #, a cow in the herd waiting to be branded. how awful huh? yea, well, thats how it feels. we need you and your staff to make a lasting impression, by just being personable. make us feel like we are not wasting your time, and our children are your MAIN concern. one problem i have with doctors is how they speak to me. now, i am NOT a doctor, and i did not go to school for 8 years. but i DID go to college, and have taken enough bio to know that your not telling me everything i should be told. tell me WHAT is going on. if my son has a cold, and you know it and i know it, test him anyways to find out EXACTLY what it is. that is why i'm there and thats why your there. don't play guessing games with me or my son and hope for the best. when i call because i have a question, make some time in your day to call me back YOURSELF. don't get that rude nurse to call me back and say, ooooo, well i'll have to ask dr. "so and so". it feels good when my sons doctor makes the effort to contact me herself. its personable, its shows effort. call with follow ups, is your child feeling better, do you have any questions? don't make our sick children sit in a waiting room FULL of other sick kids for an hour. things like this make ALL the difference in the world. even IF we only see you for 5 minutes once every 2 months to a year. and i KNOW i am not asking too much. because their are wonderful doctors that treat their patients like human beings. they are just a dying breed. not only that, but i was raised in doctors offices since i was alittle girl, i KNOW what goes on behind the curtains. once your in business for a while, you get burnt out, and money hungry. don't let this happen. i am SO glad you asked this! and it feels good to tell someone how going to the doctor makes me feel. i dont know if i answered your question, but thank you!!! lol. :-)

Answer 9

I have come across some very rude pediatricians in my daughters lifetime. She is a profoundly handicapped little girl and there were many pedi Dr's that were just rude and acted as if they didn't want to treat her. I found a man who I adore not just for her but for my 11 month old son. I want him to be honest with me, straight forward give me worst and best case scenario and make him accessible to talk to beyond appointments. He does not rush appointments with either of my children I will not let him and he always asks how my daughter is when my son goes in for his checkups. I don't want to hear "I don't know" and he knows this so if he doesn't have an answer he finds the answer or he finds someone that does know the answer. I think most ppl are frustrated by their Dr's because they book in 10-15 minute sessions and feel rushed. With my children's dr he talks to us as if he's known us for a lifetime and we are comfortable with him. And all that makes a differance to us especially because our daughter is terminally ill and he knows and is supportive of what we want for her

Source(s):

mother of a 14yr old daughter and 11 month old son

Answer 10

I really think that its better if you write down your questions before you go, that way you dont forget to inquire about any concerns you might have. A lot of times Dr.s will talk to you in medical terms instead of explaining things in a way that an average person who hasnt attended medical school can relate to. choose a Dr with lots of patients(no pun intended lol) that will take the time to explain things to you. I would also take a good look at that Dr's assosiates, there will likley be times when youll have to deal with them too.

Answer 11

I'm really glad you asked this question because I have a lot to say (even if I don't end up typing a lot). By the time my son was 6 months old, he had already had 2 different pediatricians. Now at 9 months, I am so ready for a new one again. It seems like they are all about business and will not show human feeling. When I talk to them about something, I don't want to hear "Uh huh, yeah, right, okay" in the middle of my sentence or question. I just want them to sit there and listen. I know they've all heard the same parental concerns before but they have to realize that every patient has their own story, and everything is very new to them. I am always feeling rushed! This drives me nuts. I hate feeling like we're not getting adequate care for our son. Like as if they will pass up something during my sentence while they are talking. (This has happened before.) I am not talking about all pediatricians, just the two that my son has had. So, to answer your question, I believe the pediatricians should not make parents feel like their time is worthless. They should show more emotion and feeling and not making it seem as if they are just doing their job and don't care at all.

Thanks for letting me vent a little. I hope I've answered your question.

Answer 12

I don't know about pediatricians, but I do know that I get upset with my regular doctor if I keep having to ask what all the test results are. If he takes my blood pressure, why do I have to ask what my blood pressure is? And if I ask what it is and then he takes, say, my pulse, why can't he at least be smart enough to understand that if I want to know my bp I probably also want to know my pulse? I hate having to drag everything out of my doctor, and it seems this is the problem with every doctor I encounter. I like to keep a mental tab on my vital signs so that I can tell whether something is abnormal when I see a different doctor that doesn't have my records. Also, when I tell a doctor that I've majored in biomedical science and in neuroscience, I expect them to treat me like someone who has some clue... when I get some medication I'll often look up info about it online, including scientific studies on pubmed (I for example read all the studies I could find on the effects of triamcinolone acetonide (used topically) on pregnant women and their embryos/fetuses, human or otherwise, before deciding whether I thought it was worth the risk). It's really frustrating when doctors don't cooperate in keeping you, the patient, informed. I mean, aren't there informed consent laws when it comes to medical treatments and such?

Answer 13

If Pediatricians, as with many other physicians, would be more proactive in asking questions at a level of a lay person's understanding - that would be a good start. Also, recognize that some parents are more observant than others so may notice things that other parents might not - especially those subtle things that could be significant. One of the things I really like about one of my doctors (not a Ped) is that everytime I come in, I have to fill out a brief questionaire regarding my condition for which I am being treated. A concept similar to that could be used in Peds office - a more general questionaire (multiple choice then a brief narrative section) that could get the parent thinking about questions he/she may have pertinent to the child and also open the door to communication between the physician and the parent. Especially when the child is in the younger years. More often than not, there is a waiting time to see the doctor anyway so this will also help to pass the time. One pager - no longer than that. This idea is only as good as the doctor taking a moment to review it.

Be a good listener. Without question, it goes without saying that when seeing patients back to back as most doctors do, it's too easy to feel rushed to get to the next patient on the assembly line (bad analogy but it feels that way sometimes). When with a patient and parent, focus on who is in the exam room at that time with you - give your full attention to that situation.

Answer their questions. Nothing gets me more frustrated than to deal with a doctor that doesn't answer my questions. Actually, I change doctors in that event. Even though it may make for a longer period of time in the examination room - that time is still for the patient in the room at that time. No parent likes the feeling of being blown off and sometimes, when a doctor's style is not to answer questions, that action alone can get an active imagination thinking the worse.

Also, if giving instructions to a parent - make sure they understand the instructions (use judgement here as some things are no-brainers), and why these are necessary. I know when my daughters were younger, if their Ped instructed me to do something medically related, I wanted to know why certain things were being ordered.

Most if not all parents want re-assurance that their child is healthy. When situations arise where the opposite is true, best practice is be truthful with compassion.

Answer 14

by workin togother to find out whch medicine would work best to treat the sick child and by discussing with eachother what treatment plan would work best.

Answer 15

Tell them everything and always tell the truth.Be a Angle...not really but b Nice,Truthful And Be real Loveable.O PARENTING..o i dunno..im still a kid...

Answer 16

they could both sign a paper that has both of their viewpoints saying what they think is best for children.

Answer 17

Start by really liking children. Then during the visit, play with the child a little. Be a real person. My grandchildren's doctor told my daughter she is a good mother & he always tells her that God blessed her with a healthy child. My daughter feels comfortable to ask him anything & she trusts him completely.

Answer 18

WRITE out questions ahead of time....EXACTLY WHAT YOU WANT TO ASK....that way, when you are in his/her office...you will not get tongue tied...or FORGET what you want to ask....how about that???...i FEEL COMMUNICATION WOULD BE BETTER...

Answer 19

The pediatricians needs to communicate on the level of the child's parent, be honest and don't expect them to know already about anything. Tell them everything they need to know.

Answer 20

talk to them nicely...

Answer 21

If the pediatrician wasn't always in such a rush to get to her next appointment, it would make asking questions a lot more easier. I really like my pediatrician, but when I take my baby daughter in for well visits, she doesn't spend a lot of time with us.

Answer 22

As the parent I have experienced resistance on the part of pediatricians to truly listen to our observations and factual information.

Sadly this has been the case twice in the ER. A simple urine test or blood test would have caught the rare condition our child has, instead we were sent away after a period of observation.

A second time, armed with the diagnosis, the doctors kept ignoring the information because we were in the ER for an unrelated incident and they felt the information wasn't relevant. It absolutely was. We called the specialist on our own and when he arrived the ER staff was more than willing to listen to him.

We are well educated parents and run our lives on a more factual rather than an emotional basis. I can only think we don't adequately communicate the critical nature because we are so calm and willing to trust that the doctors will know what to do with the information we relay. ( we no longer feel that way after these 2 incidents)

Your question addresses an issue that is very frustrating for us personally and potentially life threatening for our child. I look forward to reading others' answers and learning how to better guarantee that we will be heard so the best treatment can be provided to our child.

Answer 23

I'm very comfortable with my son's pediatrician. He is very calm and loving. Always holds my son (10 months) and takes his time. He always asks me if I have any questions after he is done and he tells me to call if I have any more. The very first visit he told me to call him no matter what time it is before ever going to the emergency room. He's nurse also told me this. Stressing that in the beginning made me feel very comfortable. When I call with a question, he or the nurses always try to answer it and don't always tell me to come just in. I've had other doctor's who won't give info over the phone and want me to come in. That makes me feel like all they want is my money. So that's my two cents!

Answer 24

The pedatrician can lower the number a patients they see daily. This way when you go to the pedatrician you don't feel rushed and after sitting in a little room for half the morning or afternoon with little kids any parent would be in a huge hurry to just get done what you need and get out of there.

Answer 25

Doctors need to be willing to take more time to talk to parents, especially new parents.

For the doctor, this may be the 100th time you have seen this case, which is really just asymptomatic measles, but to the parent, it is something terrible.

Parents are not stupid, just underinformed, and they want what is best for the kids.

As a physician, you need to walk me through it, so I know that if this happens again, it's not htat big of a deal.

i need to know that if i have to get ahold of you, I can. I need to know that we are on the same side and are not adversaries

Answer 26

I am the mother of three. There ages are 10, 16, & 20. My 2 youngest children see the same pediatrician. I have found that when one of them gets sick, I find it helpful to start writing their symptoms down. It makes it easier for me to ask the questions at their appointment. I don't leave the Dr's office until I am sattisfied that my questions have been answered in a way that I can understand. The first thing their Dr asks them after the initial exam is, "How's everything going at home?" They usually kick off by saying something about a fight with their bro or sis. I like the way He asks this question. Their are so many kids out there who don't have a good home life. On one occasion, he has asked me the same thing. It was right after my grandmother had passed away. He could tell that I was upset. I think it's great that he takes the time that is needed in order to make the right evaluations and make sure that I, as a concerned parent, am satisfied that my child has had the best care that he could offer. I would like to take this time to say thank you to all the pediatricians that do this. It makes such a great impact on all the worried parents and sick little ones. To those of you who are in a hurry to get to thenext patient, SHAME ON YOU! What if it were your child who was sick? Please. Have more patience with us.
We're learning as we go.

Answer 27

Hi, from my point of view, as a 1st year medical student, I think what is most important is that the paediatrician does not withhold any informations from the patient. They have to establish a rapport with the patient and then slowly build up the patient's confidence and trust in them. Once there is trust between the patient and the paediatrician, communication should not be a problem anymore. The next sensible thing that the paediatrician should do is to assure that all patient information will be kept confidential and will only be revealed to a third party when there is patient consent...umm, basically that is it..

Answer 28

The comunication and professional advice to the parent(s) is not the the problem.

The fact that most parents are too busy or just give up when the child refuses to take their dosage. Somehow the child wins and their Baaack.

Parents really do not understand medical terminology or cannot remember what the doctor the said. Or understand the importance of medications and finish the entire prescription for it to completely take it's course. And that is why they come back in less than 2 weeks.

Parents should be able to educate themselves by watching a clinical "tutorial" info-
mmercial in your waiting room

Answer 29

Wow. i couldnt agree with paige more. she took the words right out of my mouth. my current gripe however is with my obstetrician. i know medicine is big money these days but i am so tired of feeling like a paycheck to my dr. many dont tell you the whole truth. they dont slow down and listen enough to really know what the issue is. Furthermore i am soo sick of being talked to like i have a 7th grade education. i may not be a doctor but i do have a degree. i understand more than they think. Also many times the front office staff is rude and far too uppity for the lil one year of college that it takes to be a medical receptionist. and THIS is specifically for the Houston medical community. what do i have to do to get an american born english speaking dr?

Source(s):

fed up mom of 2.

Answer 30

By the pediatrician just being personable and honest, my pediatrician was in the delivery room with me for the birth of all three of my girls and they just recently stopped seeing him, he was truly a Godsend, my girls are now 29, 26 and 23, and he is still practicing. Also my pediatrican was just an all around concerned and dedicated guy, big props to Dr. Ricciardi of New Jersey.

Answer 31

For starters, we should remember to listen to one another. Doctors know what they are talking about, and parents know what they want. By listening to everything being said, it is easier to come to a better conclusion.

That being said, if the doctors listen to the parents, it helps them come up with better solutions to problems. And, if parents listen to doctors (and I mean REALLY listen), they can learn new things about their children that they never knew.

All in all, its all about the child's health and well being. So, it's not just listening, but also being HONEST about the whole situation. Don't leave anything out. By putting it all on the table, and not necessarily sugar coating it. Parents shouldn't leave out any medial history they know of and doctors should make sure all the facts are out there and in plain English for the parents to understand. By working together, you can have an easier medical experience and possibly a healthier child.