ABSTRACT
Traditional studies on the doctor—patient relationship indicate that when a physician improves his or her interviewing and interpersonal skills, there is reciprocal improvement in a patient’s proclivity to comply with the prescribed medical regimen (Alroy, Ber, & Kramer, 1984; Barrows, 1990; Bartlett, Grayson, & Barker, 1984; Kreps & Thornton, 1984; Roberson, Kowlowitz, Jenkins, & Hoole, 1989; Rowland-Morin & Carroll, 1990; Sivertson & Stone, 1983; Stewart & Roter, 1989; Thompson, 1986). Unfortunately, focusing on the physician-patient relationship exclusively vitiates the synergistic interpersonal dynamic so important to effective health communication. By employing the essential components of the art of negotiation to emphasize the importance of dyadic co-dependency in establishing effective health communication, researchers and health professionals alike can enhance their overall efficacy in the health communication encounter.
