Key communication skills and how to acquire them

doi:10.1136/bmj.325.7366.697

BMJ 2002;325:697-700 ( 28 September )

Clinical review

Key communication skills and how to acquire them

Peter Maguire, director, Carolyn Pitceathly, research fellow.

Cancer Research UK Psychological Medicine Group, Christie Hospital NHS Trust, Manchester M20 4BX

Correspondence to: P Maguire peter.maguire@man.ac.uk

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Good doctors communicate effectively with patients $---$ they identify patients' problems more accurately, and patients are moresatisfied with the care they receive. But what are the necessarycommunication skills and how can doctors acquire them?

When doctors use communication skills effectively, both they and their patients benefit. Firstly, doctors identify their patients'problems more accurately.¹ Secondly, their patients are moresatisfied with their care and can better understand their problems,investigations, and treatment options. Thirdly, patients are morelikely to adhere to treatment and to follow advice on behaviourchange.² Fourthly, patients' distress and their vulnerabilityto anxiety and depression are lessened. Finally, doctors' ownwellbeing is improved.^3-5 We present evidence that doctors donot communicate with their patients as well as they should, andwe consider possible reasons for this. We also describe the skillsessential for effective communication and discuss how doctorscan acquire these skills.

Summary points

Doctors with good communication skills identify patients' problems more accurately
Their patients adjust better psychologically and are more satisfied with their care
Doctors with good communication skills have greater job satisfaction and less work stress
Effective methods of communication skills training are available
The opportunity to practise key skills and receive constructive feedback of performance is essential

Sources and selection criteria

We used . . . [Full text of this article]

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