title: Communication skills of tutors and family medicine physician residents in Primary Care clinics.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the communicative profiles of family physicians and the characteristics associated with an improved level of communication with the patient.
  
  
  METHODS
  A descriptive multicentre study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Primary Healthcare Centres in Almeria, Granada, Jaen and Huelva.
  
  
  METHODS
  119 family physicians (tutors and 4th year resident physicians) filmed and observed with patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Demographic and professional characteristics. Analysis of the communication between physicians and patients, using a CICAA (Connect, Identify, Understand, Agree and Assist, in English) scale. A descriptive, bivariate, multiple linear regression analysis was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 436 valid interviews. Almost 100% of physicians were polite and friendly, facilitating a dialogue with the patient and allowing them to express their doubts. However, few physicians attempted to explore the state of mind of the patient, or enquire about their family situation or any important stressful events, nor did they ask open questions. Furthermore, few physicians summarised the information gathered. The mean score was 21.43±5.91 points (maximum 58). There were no differences in the total score between gender, city, or type of centre. The linear regression verified that the highest scores were obtained from tutors (B: 2.98), from the duration of the consultations (B: 0.63), and from the age of the professionals (B: -0.1).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Physicians excel in terms of creating a friendly environment, possessing good listening skills, and providing the patient with information. However the ability to empathise, exploring the psychosocial sphere, carrying out shared decision-making, and asking open questions must be improved. Being a tutor, devoting more time to consultations, and being younger, results in a significant improvement in communication with the patient.
authors.affiliation: Teaching Unit of Family and Community Medicine in Jaen, Distrito Sanitario Jaén-Jaén Sur (Jaén Health District-Jaén South), Avenida del Ejercito Español número 10, Post Code 23007, Jaen, Spain; Andalusian Research Group, Development and Innovation Plan (CTS-982). Electronic address: franciscoj.valverde.sspa@juntadeandalucia.es.
authors.forename: Francisco Javier
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Valverde Bolívar
authors.affiliation: Teaching Unit of Family and Community Medicine in Huelva, Distrito Sanitario Huelva-Costa (Huelva-Costa Health District), Calle Cuesta de las tres caídas s/n., Post Code 21001, Huelva, Spain.
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pedregal González
authors.affiliation: Linares Health Care Centre in Virgen de Linarejos, Área Sanitaria Norte de Jaén (Health Area North of Jaén), Avenida de San Sebastián s/n, Post Code 23700, Linares, Jaen, Spain.
authors.forename: María Francisca
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Pérez Fuentes
authors.affiliation: Health Centre Virgen de la Capilla, Distrito Sanitario Jaén-Jaén Sur (Jaén Health Care District-Jaén South), Calle Arquitecto Berges número 10, Post Code 23007, Jaen, Spain.
authors.forename: María Dolores
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Alcalde Molina
authors.affiliation: Medical Examination, Territorial Delegation for Equality, Health and Social Policies, Paseo de la Estación número 15, Post Code 23071, Jaen, Spain.
authors.forename: Jesús
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Torío Durántez
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventative Medicine and Public Health, Universidad de Jaén, Campus de las Lagunillas, Post Code 23071, Jaen, Spain; Biomedical Research Centre in Epidemiology and Public Health Net Biomedic Research Net (CIBERESP), Ministry of Health, ISCIII (Ministry of Science and Innovation), C/Sinesion Delgado 6, Post Code 29071, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Delgado Rodríguez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003142:Communication; D005194:Family Practice / Q000193:education*; D005260:Female; D006268:Health Facilities; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011320:Primary Health Care
keywords: Atención primaria de Salud; Communication; Comunicación; Internado y Residencia; Internships and residencies; Physician–patient relations; Primary healthcare; Relaciones Médico-Paciente