A F Smith1, M P Shelly. 1. Department of Anaesthesia, Royal Lancaster Infirmary, United Kingdom.
Abstract
PURPOSE: To provide a simple, practical guide to communication skills which might be useful to practising anesthesiologists. SOURCE: Selected citations from the literature on patient-physician communication, and the personal observations of the authors based on their reading and experiences. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Basic communication skills are introduced, and then their application to clinical anesthesiology described. The possible benefits resulting from the enhancement of clinical communication are outlined. Strategies for tackling four commonly-encountered situations - handling others' feelings, imparting information, explaining complex concepts simply and breaking bad news - are presented. By taking a skills-oriented approach, we hope that readers will be encouraged to view this area of their work as one that can be improved upon with continued observation and practice. CONCLUSION: Communication skills can enhance medical practice and improve patient outcomes. We suggest that all anesthesiologists should give thought to their effectiveness in this area.
PURPOSE: To provide a simple, practical guide to communication skills which might be useful to practising anesthesiologists. SOURCE: Selected citations from the literature on patient-physician communication, and the personal observations of the authors based on their reading and experiences. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Basic communication skills are introduced, and then their application to clinical anesthesiology described. The possible benefits resulting from the enhancement of clinical communication are outlined. Strategies for tackling four commonly-encountered situations - handling others' feelings, imparting information, explaining complex concepts simply and breaking bad news - are presented. By taking a skills-oriented approach, we hope that readers will be encouraged to view this area of their work as one that can be improved upon with continued observation and practice. CONCLUSION: Communication skills can enhance medical practice and improve patient outcomes. We suggest that all anesthesiologists should give thought to their effectiveness in this area.