reviews
Communication Skills that Heal:
A practical approach
to a new professionalism in medicine
by Barry Bub, M.D.
Radcliffe Publishing
Oxford UK 2006
View Reviews by
1. Sheldon M. Feldman M.D., FACS
as published in Healthcare Communication Review
2.
Thomas P. Guck, Ph.D.
as published in Doody's Book Review Service
3. Clare Bennett, RN
as published in Nursing Standard
4.
John Launer, MD
London Department of Postgraduate GP Education
5.
Dr Susan J. Hawken
Faculty
of Medical and Health Sciences
University of Auckland
6. Dr. Joane Wilkins
Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing
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1.
Sheldon M. Feldman M.D., FACS
as published in Healthcare Communication Review
Dr. Bub
well defines
the growing challenges involved in providing high quality
care to patients today. Despite significant scientific and technological
advances, both patients and health care workers frequently experience
extreme dissatisfaction. The frenetic pace of modern living including many
who strive to be more efficient through multitasking and aids such as
laptops and Dictaphones can significantly obstruct human connection.
As a medical student I was taught that 90% of diagnoses can be made by
taking a careful history . This skill has been largely lost by many younger
colleagues who often rely primarily on lab tests and scans. The value of
really " listening" to our patients is stressed.
This book provides an excellent guide to work toward a new health care
paradigm with a hopeful and visionary tone. It stresses humanism, compassion
and reclaiming healing modalities. This work is concise, well written in
clinical context providing specific practice points for immediate use.
Common misconceptions about good communication being too time consuming and
frustrations about not knowing what to say are clearly dispelled. Better
communication rather than longer communication is highlighted. The art of
careful, mindful listening is well illuminated.
He clearly shows how very often saying less can be much more. Words can
be very powerful and once spoken cannot be erased. Words can easily wound
rather than heal. Focusing techniques to avoid careless language are
described.
The context for healing and the importance of self care are stressed. We
cannot help others if our own emotional state is tenuous.
This book illustrates how embracing healing principles can greatly improve
our daily experience both in the health care environment and in the world at
large. Chapters providing useful information about learning to detect
depression, trauma, shame and suffering are very helpful.
The tools and techniques of metaphor, simile, rituals and setting boundaries
are well elaborated. Brief insights into Gestalt psychotherapy are
presented.
In spite of having been a student of physician/patient communication skills
for many years my consciousness in this area is significantly expanded by
this book. It will become required reading for our medical students and
residents. Dr. Bub has made an important contribution through this important
work.
Sheldon M. Feldman M.D., FACS
as published in Healthcare Communication Review
2. Thomas P. Guck, Ph.D., Doody's Book Review Service
"This is a highly personal and practical account of the importance of
communication skills in the practice of medicine. It emphasizes the
reciprocal benefit to patient and physician of listening on a deeper level.
The author's purpose is to raise awareness and stimulate, provoke, and offer
alternative perspectives that help physicians communicate effectively. The
author accomplishes this worthy objective by addressing patient/physician
communication from a personal rather than academic perspective.
The book is intended primarily for physicians, but all healthcare
practitioners and students would find it valuable. Practical communication
perspectives and suggestions based on years of clinical experience are
offered by a seasoned physician.
The author does a wonderful job of emphasizing listening as the cornerstone
to effective communication. Clinical vignettes help illustrate how to listen
to patients on a deeper level. The practice points provided at the end of
each chapter are especially helpful. The book is experiential and practical;
it is not intended as a review of the communication literature.
This book is a highly personal yet very useful and practical presentation of
communication skills for physicians. It is a valuable complement that
provides clinical flesh to the basic structure of the patient and physician
relationship offered by other books on this topic."
3.
Reviewed by Clare
Bennett, associate lecturer, the Open University, and tutor for the RCN
Institute.
"This thought-provoking book is of value to all
healthcare professionals interested in enhancing their daily practice. It
had me gripped from the moment I picked it up.
Barry Bub uses an exceptionally engaging style
of writing and makes use of case studies and scenarios to powerfully
illustrate the impact that communication can have on patients' experiences
and outcomes.
Bub's philosophy is
holistic in its fullest sense and this comes across in his discussions.
While the emphasis is on the patient's experience, the experiences of the
healthcare professional as listener are also considered. Well presented,
this book is user-friendly and stimulating."
4.
Dr John Launer, Associate Director
London Department of Postgraduate GP Education
Author of: Narrative-Based Primary Care A practical guide
“Barry Bub has a real gift for
bringing encounters with patients and colleagues to life. He manages to
make stories about people more telling and more educational than any pure
theorist ever could. His ideas about identifying laments and how to respond
to them are a powerful and original contribution to family medicine.”
5.
Dr Susan J. Hawken, Faculty of
Medical and Health Sciences
University of Auckland,
New Zealand
"Bub’s
book speaks to the heart of medical practice – the relationship between
doctor and patient. He vividly describes how doctors can better care for
patients with the use of enhanced communication skills and more awareness of
themselves. It is easy to read and has helpful practice points at the end of
each chapter which can be applied to current medical practice. One of the
most enjoyable aspects of the book are the powerful, illustrative stories. I
would recommend this book to any doctor feeling dissatisfied or disempowered
as it shows a way to be revitalised by approaching the more challenging
patient in a different way."
6. Dr. Joanne Wilkins,
Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing
"I began to read Communication Skills that Heal with a degree
of cynicism and weariness just about balance by curiosity and diligence:
much as I might start some consultations after 15 years in general practice.
I was rapidly hooked and the conclusion moved me to tears. (full review
pdf)
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