Everyone who has been a patient, or accompanied a relative to see a doctor, recognises the importance of the doctor-patient relationship. At its heart is the patient’s need to understand what is wrong, be understood, and be offered hope. Although it is common sense that hope is a fundamental element of overcoming any illness, the clinician’s role in encouraging hope has been framed as one of the distinctive elements of the “art of medicine,” relying on personal experience and instinct. However, hope is in fact a practical therapeutic tool that can be optimised just like any other management approach.

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