Williams (nursing, U. of Miami) and Davis (physical therapy, U. of Miami) and their contributors show that practitioners and students who understand themselves can communicate and promote health more effectively with patients in special circumstances. They offer strategies to communicate with children, the cognitively impaired, the critically ill, and patients with psychiatric illnesses. Strategies include developing positive interview techniques, using methods of cross-cultural communication, and conducting practice exercises. Annotation © 2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Tags: therapeutic interaction nursing