Paulo Freire’s contributions to improving the doctor-patient relationship

Abstract

A 'good' doctor-patient relationship is essential for effective clinical practice in the Unified Health System. Research has pointed to communication problems, power asymmetry and disregard for the existential situation and agenda of users. Paulo Freire dealt with similar themes in education, being his ideas less used for teaching and practice of conducting medical care. The objective of this essay was to synthesize contributions from Freire's ideas for building/improving the doctor-patient relationship in an outpatient clinical context. Methodologically, a literature review was carried out articulating aspects of the doctor-patient relationship and Freire's ideas. The analysis consisted of reading and free synthesis of selected works on the clinical relationship and of the ideas contained in Freire's main books, considered relevant to this theme (first and second topics of the article). This was followed by a summary of Freire's contributions, organized into five themes: reinforcement of the challenge of deviating from the patient's objectification; emancipatory, critical and participatory conception of the doctor-patient relationship and its educational aspects; importance of the patients' life world; importance of opening and maintaining dialogue; 'well' handle power dynamics. Freirean ideas are still very relevant and contribute to the teaching and improvement of outpatient clinical practice.