title: Communication between consultants and referring physicians: a qualitative study to define learning and assessment objectives in a specialty residency program.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Outpatient consultation constitutes a major part of medical practice. However, little is known about the skills which should be taught to residents in order for them to improve their consultant-referring physician relationships.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To specify the consultant skills which are required to ensure an effective communication between specialists and referring physicians.
  
  
  METHODS
  A qualitative study based on (a) a literature search and (b) focus group interviews.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Skills thus identified and described are classified in two groups: observable skills and principles/attitudes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The consensual specification of these abilities permits a greater efficacy in the teaching of consultant skills.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Rouen University Hospital-Charles Nicolle, 1, rue de Germont, 76031 Rouen, France. louis.sibert@chu-rouen.fr
authors.forename: Louis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sibert
authors.forename: Azzouz
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lachkar
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Grise
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Charlin
authors.forename: Joël
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lechevallier
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Weber
mesh_terms: D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000592:standards; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002170:Canada; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004501:Education, Medical; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000592:standards*; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007858:Learning; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000592:standards*; D013038:Specialization