Improving Communication Skills in Health Care

2013 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 109-117
Author(s):  
Lynda Katz Wilner ◽  
Marjorie Feinstein-Whittaker
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Patient Satisfaction ◽  
Communication Skills ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Skills Training ◽  
International Medical Graduate ◽  
Medical Graduate ◽  
Health Care Environment ◽  
Medical Interpreters ◽  
Accent Modification

Hospital reimbursements are linked to patient satisfaction surveys, which are directly related to interpersonal communication between provider and patient. In today’s health care environment, interactions are challenged by diversity — Limited English proficient (LEP) patients, medical interpreters, International Medical Graduate (IMG) physicians, nurses, and support staff. Accent modification training for health care professionals can improve patient satisfaction and reduce adverse events. Surveys were conducted with medical interpreters and trainers of medical interpreting programs to determine the existence and support for communication skills training, particularly accent modification, for interpreters and non-native English speaking medical professionals. Results of preliminary surveys suggest the need for these comprehensive services. 60.8% believed a heavy accent, poor diction, or a different dialect contributed to medical errors or miscommunication by a moderate to significant degree. Communication programs should also include cultural competency training to optimize patient care outcomes. Examples of strategies for training are included.

scholarly journals Consult, Negotiate, and Involve: Evaluation of an Advanced Communication Skills Program for Health Care Professionals

2018 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 296-307 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane Coad ◽  
Joanna Smith ◽  
David Pontin ◽  
Faith Gibson
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Young People ◽  
Communication Skills ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Cancer Education ◽  
Care Delivery ◽  
Skills Training ◽  
Communication Skills Training ◽  
The Impact

Effective communication is central to children, young people, and their families’ experiences of health care. Most patient complaints in developed health care systems result from ineffective communication, including inadequate information provision, not feeling listened to, failure to value patients concerns, and patients not feeling involved in care decisions. Advanced communication skills training is now embedded within cancer care policy in the United Kingdom and now features prominently within cancer education in many countries. Here, we share findings from a research evaluation of an advanced communication skills training program dedicated to health professionals caring for children and young people with cancer. We evaluated participants’ (n = 59) perceptions of the program, impact on their skills, knowledge, competence, and confidence. An appreciative inquiry design was adopted; data included interviews, precourse-postcourse evaluations, e-mail blog survey, and 360-degree reflective work records. The framework approach underpinned data analysis and triangulation of data sets. Key findings highlighted good and poor practice in health professionals’ engagement with children, young people, and their families; the purpose of communicating effectively was not always consistent with collaborative working. Attending a program helped participants expand their knowledge of communication theories and strategies. Participants valued using simulated scenarios to develop their skills and were keen to use their new skills to enhance care delivery. Our emphasis within this evaluation, however, remained on what was communicated, when and how, rather than to what effect. The impact of programs such as these must now be evaluated in terms of patient benefit.

Conducting family meetings in palliative care: Themes, techniques, and preliminary evaluation of a communication skills module

2009 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 171-179 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer A. Gueguen ◽  
Carma L. Bylund ◽  
Richard F. Brown ◽  
Tomer T. Levin ◽  
David W. Kissane
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Palliative Care ◽  
Communication Skills ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Skills Training ◽  
Communication Skills Training ◽  
Training Module ◽  
Family Meeting ◽  
Family Meetings

ABSTRACTObjective:To develop a communication skills training module for health care professionals about how to conduct a family meeting in palliative care and to evaluate the module in terms of participant self-efficacy and satisfaction.Methods:Forty multispecialty health care professionals from the New York metropolitan area attended a communication skills training module at a Comprehensive Cancer Center about how to conduct a family meeting in oncology. The modular content was based on the Comskil model and current literature in the field.Results:Based on a retrospective pre–post measure, participants reported a significant increase in self-efficacy about their ability to conduct a family meeting. Furthermore, at least 93% of participants expressed their satisfaction with various aspects of the module by agreeing or strongly agreeing with statements on the course evaluation form.Significance of results:Family meetings play a significant role in the palliative care setting, where family support for planning and continuing care is vital to optimize patient care. Although these meetings can be challenging, this communication skills module is effective in increasing the confidence of participants in conducting a family meeting.

Assessment of the efficacy of communication skills training program for oncologists

2016 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 216-222
Author(s):  
Giedrė Bulotienė ◽  
Gabrielė Jagelavičiūtė
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Training Program ◽  
Communication Skills ◽  
Confidence Level ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Cancer Care ◽  
Skills Training ◽  
Communication Skills Training ◽  
Oncology Patients ◽  
Personal Opinion

Background. Effective communication is essential for cancer care therefore a communication skills training program was developed by the Lithuanian Association of Psychosocial Oncology. This study aims to identify the efficacy of the new program designed for Lithuanian specialists. Materials and methods. Self-report questionnaires for health care professionals were designed. Surveys were based on three topics – stress, confidence level, and personal opinion about the training and ability to apply learned communication skills. 88(67.2%) respondents completed the questionnaire. Results. Stress: 38.6% of respondents indicated that they usually experience stress while communicating with oncology patients or their relatives; Confidence level: 61.4% of participants agreed that their level of confidence improved after trainings. 83.0% of participants agreed that the  establishment of a  connection with patients and their relatives improved, but requires further development. The  participants’ personal opinion about specific aspects of the communication skills training was evaluated as well. It was found that women are more likely to think that their skill of empathy had developed, but still needed to be improved, while men believed that their empathy had not changed, or stated that it had developed and needed no further improvement (p = 0.003). Conclusions. The  study found improvements in participants’ confidence (61.4%) and specific skills while communicating with oncology patients (75.0–90.9%). Health care professionals evaluated the program as well and very well (86.4–92.1%). The Lithuanian communication skills training program is appropriate to use to enhance the quality of cancer care.

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