The Medical Interview: Mastering Skills for Clinical Practice

Introduction - the poor historian. Part 1 Basic skills - understanding the patient's story: I attach the same meaning - interviewing as a clinical skill with simple, kindly words - respect, genuineness, empathy why should you come to consult me? - the chief complaint and present illness transforming experience into memory - other active problems, past medical history and family history gaining richness and reality - the patient profile no air of finished knowledge - review of systems, physical examination and closure I shall emumerate them to you - the clinical narrative. Part 2 Basic skills in practise - special patients and settings: headed in the right direction - paediatric and adolescent interviewing a different silhouette - interviewing the geriatric patient for the moment at least I actually became them - cultural competence in the interview the real satisfaction - communication with the patient in the office setting. Part 3 Challenges in interviewing: seal up the mouth of outrage - difficult clinician-patient interactions something new and dreadful - telling bad news a great many remedies - talking with patients about complementary and alternative medicine the sum of all the general rage - malpractice and the clinical interview not through argument but by contagion - education and negotiation the hunt is on - the medical interview at work.