Doorknob Syndrome

Bruno Ehirim
400-level Medicine and Surgery
University of Ibadan.

This syndrome is not really a syndrome but merely one of those eccentric terms to explain patients’ behaviour, and it is one upon which I stumbled, found fascinating, and wish to share. It, as the name implies, occurs when medical personnel has concluded patient care and is about leaving — turning the doorknob — or vice versa. The striking thing here is that the patient would usually leave the most pressing issue for this particular moment due to various reasons, including but not limited to uneasiness or embarrassment. Sometimes, it could stem from the doctor’s demeanour, yes. Just as your partner’s mood could stop you from sharing some delightful news, patients can also pick up on your bad mood, and they wouldn’t want to be a bother. It’s pretty easy to dismiss such last-minute complaints as insignificant, so one has to really pay attention to detail. Remember, you are treating the patient and not the case.

For the medical student (without an office, obviously), this could happen when you stand up after your thorough and exhaustive clerking, or just as you are drawing the curtains and saying goodnight after concluding your physical examinations — that hesitation before “erm doctor…”. It can be tiring, I know this very well, but reassuring your patients that every symptom or concern is important to you goes a long way. Perhaps, start by establishing a rapport before the flurry of questions, to avoid any do-fast-and-go kind of vibes.

In a way, I guess it can also apply to everyone in general. What’s worth doing at all is worth doing well. If you are, decidedly, going to be a listening ear, trying to do so on your own time may not be the best idea. People don’t enjoy feeling like a burden. Things like glancing at the time ever so often or interjecting mid-speech could imply you’re in a hurry. Not everyone is outspoken, and your attitude can send them retreating. If your career choice, like us, involves listening to people’s problems, getting better at that — listening — wouldn’t suck, would it?

Next time a patient stops at the door with something to say, I hope you remember this syndrome. You could, quite literally, be saving a life. Sayonara.

P. S.
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