Science Communication and Health: Fostering Trust in Doctor-Patient Interaction

Communication is not only a means but also a place, where relationships establish. This book argues that a trustworthy relationship can be established through carefully managed communication. Thus, knowing and understanding language and its dynamic is essential to orient oneself during communication; this allows the speakers to fully take the opportunity to foster mutual trust. Knowing language does not only mean managing what is said, but especially being aware of what it implies, entails, and what is unsaid. This is especially true in the case of doctor-patient communication, where one of the speakers is also the subject of the speech. The author looks at the moment of interaction between the physician and the patient as the chance for building and consolidating a strong therapeutic alliance. If the chance is not taken or wisely managed, it could cause the opposite, i.e., loss of trust, also possibly influencing patient’s concordance to treatment. This unusual and valuable approach to doctor-patient communication has its roots in the philosophy of language, and the philosophy of science.