Mastering Bedside Manners for Better Patient Experience

• Bedside manners help patients feel heard, respected, and comfortable, which improves the overall treatment process. 
• Technology developments improve patient care, but they cannot replace human connections.
• Healthcare professionals can improve their bedside manners through patient feedback, training, and mindfulness. 
• Striking a balance between enhancing efficiency and showing empathy is crucial for earning trust and ensuring satisfaction.

Have you ever hesitated to visit the doctor, whether as a child or an adult? Yet, once the doctor started asking questions about your life — your friends, school, or daily experience — you likely began to feel more at ease and even started to trust them. If so, you’re not alone. This is a common practice in healthcare settings all around the world. 

This emphasizes the important role of patient care in healthcare. Studies show that patients who feel respected and understood are more likely to cooperate with treatment plans, which are essential for ensuring effective care. The way healthcare providers engage with patients through empathy, clarity, and attentiveness is what we call bedside manners. 

In this article, we’ll dive deeper into bedside manners, explaining why they matter, discussing the challenges in practicing them, and offering practical suggestions for enhancing these skills in modern healthcare. 

What Are Bedside Manners?

Bedside manners refer to the way providers connect with patients — emphasizing patience, eye contact, active listening, respect, and consideration. These skills include truly hearing patients out and addressing their concerns, helping them feel valued, respected, and understood. 

Providers with good bedside manners simplify medical information, empathize with patients, respect their privacy, use positive body language, and speak in a reassuring tone. This idea has deep roots, dating back to ancient Greek practices in the 4th century. For example, Hippocrates taught that kindness, respect, and patience were fundamental to healing.

Despite medical advancements, bedside manners remain essential for building trust and ensuring patients feel safe and cared for, ultimately leading to better healthcare experiences and outcomes.

The Importance of Bedside Manners

Bedside manners shape the connection between healthcare professionals and patients, playing a vital role in the healing process. These practices help patients feel comfortable in the hospital and understand more about how to take care of themselves at home. A kind, patient, and compassionate approach can make all the difference in their recovery. Below, you can find all the key reasons why bedside care is important in healthcare.

• Patient comfort: Patients feel more relaxed and less anxious when their providers are patient and attentive throughout their medical visits or hospital stays;
• Trust and transparency: Healthcare providers who are transparent with their patients explain medical care plans in simple terms and truly listen to their concerns, building a trusting relationship;
• Improved patient outcomes: Patients who feel supported and understood are more likely to follow their treatment plans without hesitation, which in turn contributes to better health results and a quicker recovery;
• Addressing emotional and psychological needs: Bedside manners also help patients deal with their emotional and mental challenges during difficult or vulnerable moments in their journey. Oftentimes, patients feel overwhelmed by their procedures or unsure of what to expect. Dedicating a few minutes of your day to listening and reassuring them can make a world of difference.

How to Demonstrate Good Bedside Manners?

Good bedside manners help healthcare providers provide comfort and ensure effective communication with patients. In a 2022 study by Stewart et al., a patient shared their perspective on what makes a good provider:

“Understand the patient is the center of care and include them in all decision-making… keep good notes of all the conditions as well as what the patient says during their doctor visit.” 

Below are key steps doctors and medical personnel can take to demonstrate good bedside manners.

Active listening

Active listening refers to the ability to give the patient your full attention and listen carefully without interrupting. This helps professionals understand the patient’s concerns, symptoms, and emotional state. To confirm they understand the speaker, healthcare providers should maintain eye contact, repeat key points, or nod. For instance, patients feel more heard when doctors say, “So, you’re saying the pain gets worse in the evening?” or “Could you tell me a bit more about that?.” 

Empathy

Showing empathy means understanding and sharing the feelings of others. It can be as simple as acknowledging a patient’s concerns or fears. Phrases such as “I understand this must be a difficult time for you” can help patients feel supported. Empathy also builds trust and strengthens the bond with the patient. 

Professional communication

When talking to patients, it’s important to use clear, respectful, and professional communication. Avoid complex medical jargon when explaining procedures. Try using simpler terms; for example, instead of saying, “You have experienced myocardial infarction,” say, “You had a heart attack.” This approach helps patients be more informed of their condition and involved in their healthcare journey. 

Good body language

Good body language plays a crucial role in bedside manners. Providers can show respect and attentiveness by maintaining an open posture, making eye contact, and sitting at eye level with patients. However, it’s important to avoid crossing your arms, fidgeting, or checking your watch, as these actions may make patients feel rushed or unimportant.

Undivided attention

When providers give their undivided attention, patients feel truly prioritized. During consultations, avoid distractions like checking your phone or glancing at any other tasks. Dedicating just a few minutes of your time to focus fully on the patient can significantly improve their experience, even in busy environments. 

Respect patient privacy

Ensuring privacy and confidentiality is an important part of good bedside manners. As a healthcare provider, you can practice this by knocking before entering the room, closing curtains during examinations, and speaking in a respectful manner when discussing sensitive matters. Respecting privacy fosters trust and helps patients feel safe. 

Clear instructions

During consultations, patients often feel overwhelmed by medical advice. To avoid this, provide clear, step-by-step instructions to ensure they fully understand the procedures. For instance, instead of simply saying, “Take this medication twice daily,” you can say, “Take one pill in the morning after you’ve had breakfast and one in the evening after dinner.” Additionally, encourage patients to ask questions if anything remains unclear. 

Common Challenges

While bedside skills are essential for effective patient care, many healthcare professionals face challenges in practicing them. The nature of the profession itself and the complexities of patient interactions can contribute to these challenges. Below, we’ve provided some of the challenges, along with strategies to help navigate them.

Balancing efficiency with attentiveness

Healthcare providers work under time pressure most of the time, making it difficult to balance efficiency with giving undivided attention to each patient. This may lead to rushed consultations, leaving patients feeling neglected. To address this, professionals can begin by practicing active listening during the initial moments of their conversations with patients. Doctors can also save time while offering their attention to patients by summarizing key points and using structured communication techniques. 

Avoiding personal biases 

Biases related to gender, age, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status can affect the quality of patient care, even when they’re unconscious. For example, underestimating pain levels in certain groups or dismissing a young patient’s concerns as “anxiety” can lead to negative outcomes. Healthcare providers should participate in regular bias-awareness training and adopt evidence-based practices to ensure fair treatment for all patients and overcome this challenge. 

Managing stress and fatigue

The healthcare industry is increasingly demanding, contributing to stress and burnout among professionals. A fatigued provider may struggle to be as empathetic or attentive to patients, which can impact their interactions. Healthcare providers can prevent this by prioritizing self-care, ensuring they’re well-rested, engaging in physical activities, and seeking mental health support. Additionally, mindfulness practices and effective time-management techniques can help them maintain focus and presence during conversations with patients. 

Ways to Improve 

Improving bedside manners involves continuous learning, self-reflection, and intentional effort. Healthcare professionals can build stronger patient relationships and deliver empathetic care by adopting practical strategies and committing to personal growth. Here are four effective ways to improve these skills.

Training and workshops

One way of improving bedside manners is through training and workshops, which equip healthcare providers with the right skills for interacting with patients. These workshops focus on active listening, non-verbal communication, and empathy, offering you practical tools for better patient care. Role-playing scenarios and feedback sessions can also help improve your skills. 

Patient feedback

Asking patients for feedback is essential in identifying strengths and areas for improvement. Healthcare providers can use anonymous surveys or post-consultation reviews to understand how patients feel about their experience. By considering constructive feedback, providers can adjust their approach to better meet patients’ needs and expectations. 

Mindfulness practices

Mindfulness allows healthcare professionals to be more present and attentive during patient interactions, especially in stressful situations. Mindfulness techniques such as deep breathing, emotional grounding exercises, or reflective moments between consultations can improve focus and increase empathy. Mindfulness also helps manage stress and prevent burnout. 

Consistency

Healthcare professionals should attempt to offer the same level of empathy, respect, and attention to every patient, regardless of the circumstances. This consistency in patient care builds trust and reliability. Establishing routines such as greeting each patient or summarizing key points at the end of consultations ensures a more consistent approach. 

The Future of Bedside Manners in Healthcare

Bedside manners remain an important aspect of patient care despite the rise of technological advancements such as telemedicine, AI, and robotic surgeries. While these technologies improve efficiency and accuracy, they can make healthcare feel impersonal. Patients need empathy, clear communication, and a sense of being truly understood. 

For example, a healthcare professional may use a new diagnostic tool while explaining the process to the patient or take a moment to listen to a patient’s concerns or daily routine. This kind of care supports patients and builds rapport. Providers should find a balance between using technology and maintaining human connection. 

As a healthcare provider, you can interact with patients in a way that feels personal, even when using electronic health records or conducting video consultations. Recently, many providers have participated in medical training programs to develop their technical and communication skills.

They also practice patient interactions, learn how to use technology without it becoming a distraction, and work on showing empathy even in virtual environments. Technology is an integral part of modern healthcare, but bedside manners will remain just as important in ensuring patients feel valued and cared for.

Conclusion

Bedside manners, such as building rapport, showing empathy, maintaining clear communication, making eye contact, and showing respect, can significantly improve patient experiences. The simple act of noticing a patient and showing interest in their daily life can improve patient outcomes and support smoother recovery. Patients are more inclined to cooperate when they understand their treatment plan and feel valued throughout their care. 

Despite ongoing advancements in technology, bedside manners are crucial for fostering meaningful connections between providers and patients. As healthcare continues to evolve, professionals should prioritize continually improving their skills in patient care.

If you’re interested in exploring the field of medicine or applying your bedside skills in practice, consider pursuing a degree in healthcare. And what better place to do so than here at the American University of Antigua (AUA) College of Medicine? Apply to our medical school and begin your journey toward a rewarding career in medicine with us.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a good bedside manner?

The most important aspect of a good bedside manner is nonverbal active listening — actively hearing the patient without interrupting and leaning toward them with an open posture. This shows a genuine interest in what they are saying. 

What is an example of a bad bedside manner?

A poor bedside manner example would be condescending or rude behavior with patients, especially when their concerns or fears are disregarded, treatment isn’t clearly explained, and they’re rushed through appointments. 

What’s another word for bedside manner?

Other terms for bedside manners would be “patient-centered care” or “empathetic care.” 

Are doctors taught bedside manners?

Yes. Since bedside manners are crucial for providing compassionate care, senior and experienced clinicians teach students these skills.