•  
  •  
 

Lynchburg Journal of Medical Science

Specialty

Sleep Medicine

Advisor

Dr. Thomas Colletti

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to provide strategies for clinicians to manage difficult patient interactions. A comprehensive search of PubMed was conducted, identifying articles that identified the root cause of difficult patient interactions and assessed methods for successfully navigating these situations. The term “difficult patient” reflects the interaction of patient behavior, clinician perception, and systemic constraints rather than an inherent patient flaw. Effective management involves reframing difficult behavior as an expression of unmet needs and responding with empathy, active listening, clear boundaries, and collaborative decision-making. System-level strategies reduce patient distress and clinician burnout. Ultimately, the difficult patient represents strained relationships within constrained healthcare systems, best addressed through communication and organizational support that foster trust and patient-centered care. Future research should investigate systemic and relational factors shaping perceptions of difficult patients, including clinician burnout and implicit bias. Studies should evaluate interventions such as communication training, empathy enhancement, and motivational interviewing on provider well-being and patient outcomes. Exploring patient perspectives may reveal structural inequities and support more equitable approaches to care. Developing validated tools to identify high-risk interactions could enable early intervention, helping healthcare systems prevent conflict and promote sustainable patient-centered care.

Download

Share

COinS