Non-verbal communication in doctor–Patient Interaction: An exploratory Study

The objective of this article is to identify those aspects of non-verbal communication that play a major role in creating a positive or negative impact of the doctors on the patients. Their non-verbal communication can enhance their involvement with their patient and facilitate positive response of the patient to their treatment in less amount of time, which, in turn, might affect early recovery. Through the findings, the study aims at providing to the subjects recommendations on the judicious use of non-verbal communication while interacting with patients.

The study analysed the perception of doctors from private and public hospitals of three major cities of Kerala (India) to the use of non-verbal communication with patients. The research identifies four factors that have the capacity to affect the patient's response to the doctor's treatment and indicates the need of formal training in communication for doctors in factors like appearance and body language, eye contact and interpersonal skills and active listening. The fourth factor, which is the taste and conduct, seems to have little impact with respect to formal training given to doctors. Responses also suggest differences according to the demographic aspects of the subjects.