Difficult Consultations
Feedback from people working in primary care highlighted that being able to handle conflict was something they felt was important but also something they lacked confidence in. 'Conflict' in relation to healthcare could mean something overt like aggression or violence from a colleague or patient or something more subtle like manipulation or facing demands that you feel uncomfortable in complying with.
For example, when a patient requests a medication that the prescriber does not feel comfortable prescribing this may give rise to a conflict. If the patient then becomes angry because of the prescriber's refusal to issue the medication then they might feel more and more uncomfortable and less and less empowered to resolve the situation in the best possible way.
This module aims to cast some light on how one might approach consultations where no single consultation model rightly applies and where conflict occurs. There are three key elements that will be presented, which are:
For example, when a patient requests a medication that the prescriber does not feel comfortable prescribing this may give rise to a conflict. If the patient then becomes angry because of the prescriber's refusal to issue the medication then they might feel more and more uncomfortable and less and less empowered to resolve the situation in the best possible way.
This module aims to cast some light on how one might approach consultations where no single consultation model rightly applies and where conflict occurs. There are three key elements that will be presented, which are:
- the difference between being patient centred and patient pleasing;
- ways to have better consultations with patients with personality disorders and
- the simple communication skills that can reduce the stress and isolation sometimes felt by professionals dealing with difficult cases.