《中英對照讀新聞》Doctor's bedside manner still what counts 醫生在病榻旁的態度還是最重要的因素

◎張沛元

People appear to judge a good doctor based on old-fashioned bedside manner rather than technical knowledge and skills, according to a new study.

根據一項最新研究，民眾顯然還是根據老式的病榻旁的態度，而非技術知識與能力，來判斷一名醫生好壞。

Researchers found that patients at two large U.S. medical centers agreed on a number of qualities that define an "ideal" doctor -- including honesty, compassion and respectfulness.

研究人員發現，2家美國大型醫學中心的病患，對於諸多界定「理想」醫生的特質—包括誠實、同情心與尊重，看法一致。

In describing their worst experiences with a doctor, patients often cited providers’arrogance, dismissive attitude and "callousness" in discussing their condition. Technical expertise, on the other hand, was rarely mentioned in patients’assessments.

在形容最糟的就醫經驗時，病患經常列舉施醫者的傲慢、輕蔑的態度以及在討論病情時「麻木不仁」。另一方面，技術性專業知識則鮮少在病患的評估中被提及。

The findings, according to the study authors, point to the importance of doctors learning and cultivating interpersonal skills, as well as technical ones.

據這項研究的主持者表示，這些發現指出，醫生不但要學習與培養專業技術能力，也要學習與培養人際能力的重要性。

Dr. Neeli M. Bendapudi of Ohio State University in Columbus led the study, which is published in the March issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings.

這項由哥倫布的俄亥俄州立大學的尼利．M．班達普迪博士領軍的研究，已刊載於3月號的梅約醫學期刊。

新聞辭典

manner：名詞，方式；舉止，態度。manner加s則是風俗；禮貌。例句：Mind your manners while you are travelling abroad。（在國外旅遊時請注意你的行為舉止。）

base on：動詞，建立在…的基礎上。例句：The script of motion picture Brokeback Mountain is based on a namesake short story by Annie Proulx。（電影斷背山的劇本是根據安妮．普露的同名小說改編。）