IGS Theme And Communications Skills

29.9.05

IGS
• The inter-relationships of social, cultural (groups) and psychological (individual) factors in health and disease.
• Important theme in curriculum - reflecting this, students are examined on IGS throughout the whole course.
• Health behaviour.
-Risky lifestyles: can they be changed?
• Coping with chronic illness.
• Adherence.
-Why do half of all patients not take their medicines as prescribed?

Communication skills - vital!
• Trust, care, respect.
• Patient satisfaction is a key NHS priority.
• Adherence to treatment.
• Ethical duty to do the best for your patients.
• Complaints and litigation: 90% = poor communication.
• Your own quality of life as a practitioner.

Can they be taught?
• We all have communication skills.
• Communicating is complex and there is always more to learn.
• Good communication involves:
-being flexible
-being aware of the impact you are having
-finding your own style.
• BUT there are some key skills you can learn and develop.
• EVERYBODY can improve.

Challenging situations:
• Breaking bad news.
• Talking with patients with shome it may be difficult to communicate:
-emotionally-charged situations
-patients with mental health difficulties
-communicating via an interpreter
-children and their parents
-sensitive and difficult topics.

The consultation: key questions:
• Do I know significantly more about this patient than when I started the consultation?
• Did I really listen?
• Did I find out what really matters to the patient?
• Did I share treatment options?
• Did I attempt to make sure they understood?
• Was I approachable, caring and respectful?
• Did I go all I could to win this patient's trust?

Who's who?
Ms Janine Carroll - j.l.carroll@liv.ac.uk
Dr Bridget Young - bridget.young@liv.ac.uk