Transformation of the physician–patient communication in the era of digital technologies

Abstract

This qualitative study aimed to analyze the transformations in the physician–patient relationship associated
with the use of digital technologies in clinical practice from physicians’ perspectives. Fifteen physicians from
a hospital in the Zona da Mata region of Minas Gerais were interviewed. Data analysis followed Bardin’s
content analysis technique. Three thematic categories emerged: barriers to interpersonal communication;
impacts of technological innovations; and effects of patients’ informational autonomy. The results reveal
tensions between the operational gains provided by technologies and the preservation of the human bond
in care. Professionals report difficulties in adaptation, point to the dehumanization of care, and highlight
the ethical challenge of dealing with increasingly informed patients, though not always critically informed.
It is concluded that contemporary medical practice requires integration between technological innovation
and ethical commitment, with an emphasis on listening, empathy, and accessible communication.