title: Learning clinical communication on ward-rounds: an ethnographic case study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore what factors influence student-doctors' learning of clinical communication on ward-rounds and how such learning can be enhanced.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adopting a qualitative ethnographic approach, the author audio recorded and observed 63 bedside episodes within 18 ward-rounds on four different wards over an 8-week period. Nine fourth year student-doctors and four clinicians also participated in semi-structured interviews. The combination of observations, audio-recordings, transcriptions, field notes, and interview data allowed us to produce a detailed description of the case.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Each bedside episode offered opportunities for learning about clinical communication. However, the student-doctors did not always recognise that they were learning about clinical communication, since in this context, they were not being explicitly taught about communication. Student-doctors were rarely invited to participate in the ward-round and clinicians overlooked opportunities for learning. Some student-doctors questioned the educational value of ward-rounds and did not always attend.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ward-rounds are a rich site for learning clinical communication but opportunities for learning are often overlooked.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  By being alert to the power of role modelling and the importance of inclusion and participation, student-doctors' learning of clinical communication can be enhanced even on busy ward rounds.
authors.affiliation: University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine , UK.
authors.forename: Sally
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Quilligan
mesh_terms: D000884:Anthropology, Cultural; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003142:Communication; D005180:Faculty, Medical / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007858:Learning; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D056164:Teaching Rounds / Q000458:organization & administration*