Open AccessCommunication Skills Training in the Medical Curriculum
Author(s) -
Branet Partric,
Yasar Ahmed
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of education and learning (edisi elektronik)/journal of education and learning
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2302-9277
pISSN - 2089-9823
DOI - 10.11591/edulearn.v7i3.18490
Subject(s) - communication skills , communication skills training , curriculum , medical education , health care , skills management , psychology , duration (music) , medicine , nursing , pedagogy , literature , art , economics , economic growth
Communication is an essential skill in the armory of any worker in the health field. It is an integral part of the skills required, not only in medical doctors, but in all health workers. Communication is more than history taking; it includes all methods of interaction with patients, patient's relatives, members of the health care team, and the public. Many studies stressed that the main complaints of patients are related to communication problems and not to clinical competency. This has contributed to an increase in the number of law suits, non-adherence to medical regimens, and the tendency of patients to keep changing physicians and hospitals. Also, it has been shown that health outcome is positively affected by proper communication. This includes patient's satisfaction and cooperation, decrease in treatment duration, decrease in painkillers requirements, and decrease in hospital stay. Also, it has been shown that communication skills can be taught and important changes in physician's behavior and in their communication skills have been demonstrated after courses of communication skills. Thus, many medical colleges in the world are including communication skills courses in their undergraduate and graduate curricula.