The aggressive patient

Overview

The paper deals with problems of the aggressive behavior of the patient towards the attending physician. It is focused on three basic areas: pieces of knowledge on the sources of aggressive behavior and the course of assault; the recognizing of warning signs; a review of the basic communicative managing procedures. Simultaneously there are presented the views of students at the Faculty of General Medicine, Palacký University in Olomouc. According to the opinion of third-year students, the patient expects of the physician namely professionality and communicative abilities. Among fifth-year students the prevailing opinion is that the physician should sustain an intelligible, accomodative and positive communication towards the aggressive patient.

Key words:
aggression – aggressive patient – assault.