LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Dear Editor:
run articles on natural agents, for
example glucosamine, niacinamide,
boron and strontium, etc. The
question I hate to ask is why?
Alan L. Russell, MD
Brampton, ON
Re: Doc Talk, Dialogue,
Issue 1, 2014
Re: Relationships with
Industry, Dialogue, Issue 1,
2014
Looking back over the last few
years, an ever-increasing number
of lectures I attend are funded by
therapeutic companies, the speakers always advise of their interests.
However slight in some cases, the
lectures are often focused on drug
treatment usually on patented products. It is extremely rare for lectures
to mention non-patented products
especially natural agents.
This gives physicians a very biased
picture of the treatment of illness,
very rarely is nutrition, vitamins or
natural agents mentioned. The same
can be said of articles in so called
free publications to physicians.
I have noticed over the past few
years that journals are loath to
4
DIALOGUE • Issue 2, 2014
I appreciated the article Doc Talk,
written by Stuart Foxman, in the
latest issue of Dialogue. Mr. Foxman
mentions the ICE questions, ideas,
concerns, and expectations, as
important in doctor-patient
communication.
When it comes to questions about
doctor-patient communication and
patient-centered medicine, you
don’t need to go very far. The Centre for Studies in Family Medicine,
part of the Department of Family
Medicine at the Schulich School of
Medicine and Dentistry in London,
Ontario, has been at the forefront
of doctor-patient communication
studies for nearly 20 years.
Drs. Moira Stewart, Tom Freeman,
Judith Belle Brown, Wayne Weston,
Ian McWhinney and Carol McWilliam have just published the third
edition of their book on Patient
Centered Medicine. The concepts
in these books have been incorporated into all medical school curricula and family medicine training
programs across Canada, and have
been highlighted around the world.
The patient-centered clinical method, which was outlined originally
in the book, talks about exploring
the patient experience with questions like: How are you feeling
about that? What are your ideas
about what’s going on? How have
you been functioning? And what
are your expectations? This has been
shortened to FIFE, feelings, ideas,
function, and expectations, remarkably similar to the ICE questions.
For years, medical students and residents have been taught to “FIFE”
their patients.
Communication issues are at the
heart of the doctor-patient relationship and you can never emphasize
their importance enough, so any
article on communication is always
appreciated. I thought it was
important for your readers to be
informed that doctor-patient communication has been an active topic
in London, Ontario, and Canada
for many years.
Stephen J. Wetmore, MD
London, ON