title: Communication skills of healthcare professionals in paediatric diabetes services.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify training needs in communication skills and to assess training preferences of staff working in paediatric diabetes services, which will inform the development of a learning programme in behaviour change counselling for healthcare professionals.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three hundred and eighty-five staff in 67 UK paediatric diabetes services were sent questionnaires to determine their previous communication skills training, to measure their self-reported view of the importance of and confidence in addressing common clinical problems and to assess the perceived feasibility of training methods to improve skillfulness.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two hundred and sixty-six questionnaires (69%) were returned from 65 services. Sixteen per cent of doctors, nurses and dietitians reported no previous training in communication skills and 47% had received no training since graduating. Respondents rated psychosocial issues as more important to address than medical issues within consultations (t = 8.93, P < 0.001), but felt less confident addressing such issues (t = 15.85, P < 0.001). One-day workshops and monthly team meetings were the most popular of the training options considered (65% and 77%, respectively). CD ROM and web-based learning were considered feasible for 54% and 56% of respondents, respectively, although lack of time (55%) and privacy (34%) were potential barriers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Addressing psychosocial issues is an important component of consultations involving young people with diabetes, but healthcare professionals find it easier to address medical issues. This represents a key training need in communication skills for diabetes professionals. The survey will inform the development of a tailored learning programme for health professionals in UK paediatric diabetes clinics.
authors: South East Wales Trials Unit, Department of Primary Care and Public Health, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK.
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Hambly
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Robling
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Crowne
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Hood
authors: J W
authors: JW
authors: Gregory
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002648:Child; D002662:Child Health Services; D003142:Communication; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires