The Challenge

Doctors wish to help their patients in the best possible way. When patients show up with a headache, their General Practitioner (GP) will try to diagnose the pain and provide the best treatment. But only rarely do GPs ask their patients how they feel about the pain or in general. Likewise, GPs may find it difficult to deliver bad news to patients, or to talk to them about sensitive or personal issues like sexual problems.

Majorie van der Cingel is a psychologist at the University of Utrecht in Holland. It is her job to teach future GPs how to communicate with patients and reflect over the decisions they will have to make every day in their medical practice.

My method

I use Dialoogle cards on a regular basis during GP Specialty Training. Usually in short patient communication exercises where the trainees choose a card to support them. And I obtain the best results when I use the cards without any form of introduction. The images make it easier for GP Trainees to talk about sensitive or tabooed issues. Using the picture cards systematically allows them to get used to talking about feelings, social and psychological factors that may explain some of the somatic symptoms experienced by patients.

Outcome

Every time we use the cards, the trainees are surprised how effectively the images provide new insight and facilitate the handling of issues and situations that they would otherwise find sensitive and difficult.

As a result most of them experience a greater satisfaction as GPs because they are able to help their patients much better than by simply writing a prescription or referring them to a specialist.

Every time we use the cards, the trainees are surprised how effectively the images provide new insight and facilitate the handling of issues and situations that they would otherwise find sensitive and difficult.