Communicating with patients.

Communication has been defined as “the transmission of information, thoughts, and feelings so that they are satisfactorily received or understood.” Good patient communication involves recognizing and responding to the patient as a whole person—an approach frequently termed “patient-centered” care. It also involves recognizing that in any provider-client interaction two experts are present: the provider who has the clinical knowledge and the client who has the knowledge of the individual and cultural factors that influence effective treatment and care. The RESPECT model, presented below, crystallizes the patientcentered approach to communication.