title: Improving clinician competency in communication about schizophrenia: a pilot educational program for psychiatry trainees.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Important gaps are observed in clinicians' communication with patients and families about psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia. Communication skills can be taught, and models for education in these skills have been developed in other fields of medicine, such as oncology, providing a framework for training communication skills relevant to psychiatric practice. This study evaluated a pilot communication skills education program for psychiatry trainees, focusing on discussing schizophrenia diagnosis and prognosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Communication skills training modules were developed based on an existing theoretical framework (ComSkil), adapted for discussing a schizophrenia diagnosis and prognosis. Pre-post training rating of self-reported confidence in a range of communication tasks was obtained, along with trainee views on the training methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-eight participants completed the training. Significant improvements in confidence were reported post training for discussing schizophrenia prognosis, including an increased capacity to critically evaluate their own communication skills. Participants reported high levels of satisfaction with the program.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This preliminary study provides support for the translation of a well-established educational model to psychiatric training addressing core clinical communication tasks and provides the foundation for the development of a more comprehensive evaluation and an extended curriculum regarding other aspects of care for patients with schizophrenia: ongoing management and recovery, dealing with conflict, and conducting a family interview.
authors: University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Newcastle, NSW, Australia, Carmel.Loughland@newcastle.edu.au.
authors: Carmel
authors: C
authors: Loughland
authors: Brian
authors: B
authors: Kelly
authors: Philippa
authors: P
authors: Ditton-Phare
authors: Harsimrat
authors: H
authors: Sandhu
authors: Marina
authors: M
authors: Vamos
authors: Sue
authors: S
authors: Outram
authors: Tomer
authors: T
authors: Levin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards; D003142:Communication; D003479:Curriculum; D004493:Education / Q000379:methods; D056348:Emotional Intelligence; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017145:Models, Educational; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011379:Prognosis; D011570:Psychiatry / Q000193:education; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis*