ABSTRACT
EFFECTIVE communication between medical personnel and patients is critical to the successful delivery of health care (Kreps, 1981). This premise has stimulated much research, particularly regarding physician-patient interaction. This work has generally focused on the linguistic and nonverbal behaviors (perceived or actual) exhibited by physicians and patients that lead to particular outcomes such as patients’ satisfaction with health care received, understanding, and compliance with doctors’ instructions (for reviews, see Pendleton & Hasler, 1983).
