Two important aspects of communication

Our research team, even while plugging away on two population-scale communication research projects, is thinking about the future and how we can build on the projects we have already done. Our conversations led us to consider two important, but different, aspects of communication: content and conduct.

• Content is the "what" that is communicated.
• Conduct is "how" it is communicated.

It is especially important to consider both content and conduct when considering physician communication with patients. Is the physician giving correct information? Is the information appropriate for the stage of the conversation? But even if the content is correct, it is not enough if it is not communicated effectively. Does the physician use words the patient is likely to understand? Does the physician check in with the patient to see if the patient understands what is being said? Does the physician consider the patient's emotional reaction?

And so physician-patient communicators continue to seek way to measure and improve both the content and conduct of physician communication.