Mastering Communication with Seriously Ill Patients
Balancing Honesty with Empathy and Hope

This book guides the physician through the daunting communication challenges of explaining life-threatening illness to patients and families.

Anthony Back (Author), Robert Arnold (Author), James Tulsky (Adapted by)

9780521706186, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 2 March 2009

170 pages, 19 tables
22.4 x 15 x 1.3 cm, 0.27 kg

'This useful step-by-step guide tailors the message of developing good communication to some of the most difficult conversations a physician will ever have.' Doody's Notes

Physicians who care for patients with life-threatening illnesses face daunting communication challenges. Patients and family members can react to difficult news with sadness, distress, anger, or denial. This book defines the specific communication tasks involved in talking with patients with life-threatening illnesses and their families. Topics include delivering bad news, transition to palliative care, discussing goals of advance-care planning and do-not-resuscitate orders, existential and spiritual issues, family conferences, medical futility, and other conflicts at the end of life. Drs Anthony Back, Robert Arnold, and James Tulsky bring together empirical research as well as their own experience to provide a roadmap through difficult conversations about life-threatening issues. The book offers both a theoretical framework and practical conversational tools that the practising physician and clinician can use to improve communication skills, increase satisfaction, and protect themselves from burnout.

1. Taking your skills to the next level
2. Getting a good start
3. Talking about serious news
4. Making treatment decisions
5. Discussing prognosis
6. Between the big events
7. Conducting a family conference
8. Dealing with conflicts
9. Transitions to end of life care
10. Talking about dying
11. Cultivating your skills.

Subject Areas: Palliative medicine [MMC], Oncology [MJCL], Doctor/patient relationship [MBDP], Medicine: general issues [MB]