From Fear to Fun - Efficient consultation - Empower patients

Astrid M. Koenig
  • 0.0 (0)
  • HOW TO

How to improve the relation between doctors and patients? A lot is going on during any consultation. Frequently we are not aware of the obstacles in the way of effective communication in the outpatient clinic. This is especially the case when the patient is a child. Learn how to empower your (paediatric) patients so that you can become their partner in their journey. Learn how to use the time you have as efficient and effective as possible, with a high degree of patient satisfaction and treatment adherence.

  1. From Fear to Fun: The process of communication

    4H AGO

    From Fear to Fun: The process of communication

    This episode explores why communication in paediatric care so often breaks down — not because doctors don’t explain enough, but because real‑world communication is full of mental “background noise.” While the ideal scenario assumes perfect listening and perfect understanding, the reality is far more complex. Parents and children arrive with their own storylines, worries, and assumptions, all of which distort how information is received. We cover: The gap between ideal communication and real‑world communicationWhy information gets lost, distorted, or misunderstoodHow parents and children bring separate inner storylines into the consultationThe impact of fear, distraction, and assumptions on comprehensionWhy doctors must compete with the “voice within” — without raising their ownThe need to understand predictable thought patterns to communicate effectivelyKey takeaway: Our current communication habits often fail because they ignore the mental background noise patients and parents bring into the room. To move closer to effective communication, we must understand — and work with — their inner storylines. Tune in for a clear, practical look at why communication breaks and how to bridge the gap. You can find this content also in my blog: https://wp.me/pfxEk2-8T Music from Sascha Ende via ende.app Soli deo gratia

    5 min

  2. 1D AGO

    From Fear to Fun: Why focus on Communication

    This episode explores why communication between doctors and patients so often fails — even when clinicians believe they’ve explained everything clearly. Research shows that most medical information is forgotten immediately, much of what remains is remembered incorrectly, and long‑term adherence can drop as low as 30%. The problem isn’t that we don’t talk enough. It’s that we talk in ways patients cannot absorb. We cover: Why 50–80% of medical information is forgotten right awayHow giving more information actually reduces understandingWhy nearly half of remembered information is recalled incorrectlyThe emotional and cognitive overload that disrupts communicationWhy clinicians often end up exhausted while patients end up confusedThe shift from “talking more” to “talking better”Key takeaway: Effective communication isn’t about volume — it’s about clarity. When we speak in a way patients can truly receive, we replace confusion with understanding and build the foundation for cooperation. Tune in for a practical, eye‑opening look at how to make communication work. You can find this content also in my blog: https://wp.me/pfxEk2-8R Music by Sascha Ende via ende.app Soli deo gratia

    5 min
  3. From Fear to Fun: Communication is everything

    2D AGO

    From Fear to Fun: Communication is everything

    This episode explores why communication isn’t just part of a doctor’s job — it is the job. Every interaction in healthcare depends on sending and receiving information clearly, compassionately, and in a way patients can actually understand. And because fear, stress, and cognitive differences shape how information is received, clinicians must adapt their communication, not expect patients to adapt to them. We cover: Why communication is the core task of every doctor, regardless of specialityHow every behaviour — tone, posture, silence, distance — communicates somethingWhy fear, stress, and unfamiliar environments make comprehension difficultHow language barriers and cognitive differences widen the communication gapWhy “speaking more Martian” doesn’t help when patients don’t understandThe clinician’s responsibility to create shared ground for communicationKey takeaway: Communication is everything. When we adjust our language, pace, and behaviour to the needs of children and parents, we transform confusion into clarity — and fear into cooperation. Tune in for a grounded, practical look at the heart of every clinical encounter. You can find this content also in my blog: https://wp.me/pfxEk2-8O Music by Sascha Ende via ende.app Soli deo gratia

    6 min
  4. What is your IQ?

    3D AGO

    What is your IQ?

    This episode explores a rarely discussed truth in healthcare: doctors and patients often operate with very different cognitive resources. With physicians statistically averaging an IQ around 127 — the top 5% — and patients navigating fear, stress, and unfamiliar environments, communication gaps are inevitable unless clinicians intentionally bridge them. We cover: Why doctors often underestimate the cognitive gap between themselves and patientsHow fear and hospital stress drastically reduce parents’ and children’s ability to process informationWhy intelligence is a given tool, not an achievementThe reality that 80% of medical information is forgotten immediatelyWhy the responsibility to adjust communication lies with cliniciansThe guiding principle: if a three‑year‑old can understand it, the parents will tooKey takeaway: Our intelligence isn’t something to be proud of — it’s something to use. When we translate complex concepts into simple, accessible language, we create clarity, trust, and genuine partnership in care. Tune in for a grounded, compassionate look at how smarter communication leads to safer, calmer encounters. You can find this content also in my blog: https://wp.me/pfxEk2-8V Music by Sascha Ende via ende.app Soli deo gratia

    6 min
  5. From Fear to Fun: The power of eye contact

    5D AGO

    From Fear to Fun: The power of eye contact

    This episode explores how eye‑contact shapes safety, connection, and cooperation in paediatric care. Being seen is a fundamental human need — yet eye‑contact can comfort, overwhelm, or even threaten, depending on how it’s used. Children feel this, especially strongly, particularly when they are sick or vulnerable. We cover: Why being seen matters for both children and adultsThe balance between too little and too much eye‑contactA personal story illustrating the power of being met at eye levelHow eye‑contact communicates intimacy, control, and attentionWhy direct gazes can feel threatening, especially to childrenHow illness heightens sensitivity to being watched or judgedKey takeaway: Eye‑contact is powerful. Used with care, it creates connection and safety. Used without awareness, it can trigger fear or shame — especially in children who already feel exposed. Tune in for a thoughtful look at how to use eye‑contact wisely in paediatric encounters. You can find this content also in my blog: https://wp.me/pfxEk2-8o Music by Sascha Ende via ende.app Soli deo gratia

    6 min
  6. From Fear to Fun: Height matters

    6D AGO

    From Fear to Fun: Height matters

    This episode explores how height shapes safety, trust, and cooperation in pediatric care. Being looked down upon is not just symbolic — it triggers a primal fear response. For children, who are physically smaller and already vulnerable, an adult towering above them can feel overwhelming and threatening, especially in a hospital setting. We cover: Why being looked down upon activates fear and reduces cooperationHow height creates subconscious power imbalancesWhy adults standing over children send intimidating signalsHow hospitals amplify this height‑based fearWhy approaching a child from above feels like “predator behaviour” to their nervous systemThe transformative power of squatting down to meet children at eye levelKey takeaway: Height matters. When we crouch to meet children at eye level, we dissolve intimidation, build connection, and create the safety needed for genuine cooperation. Tune in for a simple but powerful shift that changes the entire encounter. You can find this content also in my blog: https://wp.me/pfxEk2-86 Music by Sascha Ende via ende.app Soli deo gratia

    5 min
  7. From Fear to Fun: Space matters

    FEB 12

    From Fear to Fun: Space matters

    In this episode, we explore why physical distance is one of the most powerful — and most overlooked — elements of non‑verbal communication in pediatric care. Drawing on insights from animal behaviour and human neuroscience, we unpack how proximity shapes safety, fear, and cooperation. We cover: Why distance determines behaviour in both animals and humansHow “flight distance” and “critical distance” shape first encountersWhy children need even more space due to size and vulnerabilityHow strangers often invade children’s space unintentionallyWhat happens when personal space is crossed too soonWhy forced proximity triggers fear and destroys cooperationKey takeaway: If we enter a child’s personal space without permission, their brain interprets it as a threat. Respecting distance is the first step toward trust — and the foundation for every successful pediatric encounter. Tune in for a clear, practical look at how distance shapes safety. You can find this content also my my blog: https://wp.me/pfxEk2-7W Music by Sascha Ende via ende.app Soli deo gratia

    6 min
  8. From Fear to Fun: The role of timing

    FEB 11

    From Fear to Fun: The role of timing

    In this episode, we explore how emotions dramatically shape a child’s perception of time — and why this matters so much in pediatric care. Positive emotions make time feel short and manageable, while fear and distress make every second feel endless. Trust becomes the key variable that determines how long a child can tolerate discomfort. We cover: Why time feels fast during positive engagement and painfully slow during fearHow children experience time differently — especially when waiting or enduring discomfortWhy lack of control intensifies distress and stretches perceived timeHow trust in the doctor increases a child’s ability to tolerate unpleasant momentsPractical strategies: invest in the first seconds, protect trust, limit discomfort, and give the child controlWhy forcing procedures or restraining children destroys trust and leads to traumaKey takeaway: Emotions shape time. The more trust we build, the more manageable discomfort becomes — and the smoother, safer, and more humane the entire encounter feels. Tune in for practical, compassionate insights into transforming time from a source of fear into a space of safety. You can find this coentent also in my blog: https://wp.me/pfxEk2-7p Music by Sascha Ende via ende.app Soli deo gratia

    6 min
See All (21)

About

How to improve the relation between doctors and patients? A lot is going on during any consultation. Frequently we are not aware of the obstacles in the way of effective communication in the outpatient clinic. This is especially the case when the patient is a child. Learn how to empower your (paediatric) patients so that you can become their partner in their journey. Learn how to use the time you have as efficient and effective as possible, with a high degree of patient satisfaction and treatment adherence.

Information