title: How can Doctors Improve their Communication Skills?
abstract: The process of curing a patient requires a holistic approach which involves considerations beyond treating a disease. It warrants several skills in a doctor along with technical expertise. Studies have shown that good communication skill in a doctor improve patient's compliance and overall satisfaction. There are certain basic principles of practicing good communication. Patient listening, empathy, and paying attention to the paraverbal and non verbal components of the communication are the important ones that are frequently neglected. Proper information about the nature, course and prognosis of the disease is important. Besides, patients and attendants should always be explained about the necessity and yield of expensive investigations and risks/benefits involved in invasive procedures. One should be extremely cautious while managing difficult encounters and breaking bad news. Formal training of the doctors in improving communication skills is necessary and has proven to improve overall outcome. The authors recommend inclusion of formal training in communication skills in medical curriculum and training of practising doctors in the form of CMEs and CPEs.
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences , New Delhi, India .
authors.forename: Piyush
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ranjan
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Hamdard Institute of Medical Sciences and Research , New Delhi, India .
authors.forename: Archana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kumari
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Geriatric Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences , New Delhi, India .
authors.forename: Avinash
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chakrawarty
keywords: Breaking bad news; Doctor patients conflict; Verbal component