Bedside manner is the term used in doctor-patient relationships to describe how well the physician can relate to the patient when the patient is in need of comfort, reassurance and support when receiving a bad diagnosis or being told they must undergo a painful or dangerous procedure. As physicians are almost universally individuals who are driven, highly intelligent, competitive, socially awkward and busy, in most cases being able to provide this kind of supportive relationship does not come naturally to them. In recent years, both medical education and physician assessment has put much more emphasis on relationships with patients as studies have shown that medical results are superior when patients "buy into" a diagnosis and treatment plan rather than being dictated to by their doctor.