A Nice Dr. Can Make a Difference

June 11, 2001

Do you like your doctor? If so, new research shows that you also feel

better about your overall health. Physicians who are warm, friendly, and

reassuring have a more therapeutic effect on patients than those who are

formal and do not provide reassurance reports the March 10, 2001 issue

of The Lancet. This proved consistent regardless of any prescribed

treatment or medication. In 25 eligible, randomized controlled trials,

19 examined cognitive care, one-half of which were found to have

significant effects. While none of the studies examined the effects of

emotional care alone, four trials assessed a combination of the two.

Three of these studies showed that combining both cognitive and

emotional care significantly influenced health outcomes for patients.

Source: The Lancet, March 10, 2001

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