While innovative technologies and AI dominate the healthcare sector, the simple yet crucial human activity of effective communication between patients and providers is a cornerstone to improved patient health and well-being. Patient-provider communication refers to the way healthcare professionals communicate with their patients, including the way they explain diagnoses, answer questions, listen to concerns, share decision-making, and their delivery of care in a concise, respectful, empathetic, and culturally respectful manner.
Research studies have consistently highlighted that when patients feel respected during conversations with healthcare providers and rapport is built, they’re more likely to adhere to treatment plans, possess increased health competence, attend follow-up appointments, report lower levels of anxiety, and higher levels of satisfaction with their treatment and psychological well-being. It has been reported that some patients even regard good communication between nurses and patients to be more important than the physical care provided (Kwame et al., 2021). In contrast, ineffective patient-provider communication such as rushed consultations, insensitive attitudes, and language barriers can increase medical mistrust, reduce patient adherence to medication, reduce social support, and reduce patient satisfaction with care (Bello, 2017).
What Does Good Communication Look Like?
Effective communication begins with creating a safe space for a productive back-and-forth conversation between patients and providers, not just the quick delivery of a diagnosis. Patients should feel comfortable to ask as many questions as they feel necessary, express concerns, and be involved in the process of shared decision-making in order to engage and empower patients.
Language access is another critical component of effective patient-provider communication. If the provider does not speak the same language as the patient, qualified interpreters should be on site to mitigate any language barriers, avoid any miscommunication, and ensure patients fully understand their condition and options. Interestingly, qualified interpreters have been found to be more effective than digital translation tools or informal interpreters e.g. a family member or friend, highlighting the significance of a trained professional on site to mitigate any language barriers and improve patient satisfaction and well-being (Van Lent et al., 2025).
The Role of Cultural Competency
Cultural sensitivity is essential in almost all of our interactions, and is fundamental in healthcare delivery to ensure equitable and effective care. Cultural sensitivity involves making patients feel respected and understood by considering factors such as their cultural needs, preferences, values, dietary practices, and even their views on medication and the medical field as a whole (Vandecasteele et al., 2024). A culturally competent provider recognizes that many healthcare-related decisions can be rooted in cultural values, which needs to be recognized, respected, and adapted to when communicating to patients of varying backgrounds in order to enhance patient health and overall well-being.
For this reason, many medical schools are now incorporating cultural competency training and experiential learning into their curricula, as “being a good doctor requires not only knowledge and technical skills, but also communication” (Davis et al., 2012). This is becoming increasingly important in the interconnected and diverse world we now live in. For example, at the Mayo Medical School, a tool was developed to assess medical students as they communicate with patients while obtaining information on their medical history, in order to identify gaps and improve communication styles (Berman et al., 2016). Similarly, St. George’s University School of Medicine in Grenada has implemented clinical rotations in the UK in order to enhance knowledge of other cultures and ensure that its workforce is not just technically trained, but also develop patient-centered and empathetic communication skills (SGU, 2025).
Conclusion: Communicating To Heal
Healthcare encompasses more than just treating disease; it involves promoting overall wellness in order to care for the individual as a whole. One way this is achieved is through respectful, collaborative, and culturally sensitive communication that prioritizes the patient’s perspective, values, and preferences. In an increasingly tech-driven world, we must ensure that human connection remains at the forefront of our healthcare and well-being strategy.
References
Bello, O. (2017). Effective communication in nursing practice: A literature review [Master’s thesis, Arcada University of Applied Sciences]. Core. Retrieved July 4, 2025, from https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/84798372.pdf
Berman, A. C., & Chutka, D. S. (2016). Assessing effective physician-patient communication skills: "Are you listening to me, doc?". Korean journal of medical education, 28(2), 243–249. https://doi.org/10.3946/kjme.2016.21
Davis, L. E., King, M. K., Wayne, S. J., & Kalishman, S. G. (2012). Evaluating Medical Student Communication/Professionalism Skills from a Patient's Perspective. Frontiers in neurology, 3, 98. https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2012.00098
Kwame, A., Petrucka, P.M. (2021). A literature-based study of patient-centered care and communication in nurse-patient interactions: barriers, facilitators, and the way forward. BMC Nurs 20, 158. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-021-00684-2
St. George’s University School of Medicine. (2025, June 23). UK clinical rotations enriches SGU’s students medical career [Press release]. https://www.sgu.edu
Vandecasteele, R., Robijn, L., Stevens, P.A.J. et al. (2024). “Trying to write a story together”: general practitioners’ perspectives on culturally sensitive care. Int J Equity Health, 23, 118. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-024-02200-9
Van Lent, L. G. G., Yilmaz, N. G., Goosen, S., Burgers, J., Giani, S., Schouten, B. C., & Langendam, M. W. (2025). Effectiveness of interpreters and other strategies for mitigating language barriers: A systematic review. Patient education and counseling, 136, 108767. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2025.108767
