Clinical Communication

Clinical Communication (CC) is designed to span the six years of the undergraduate curriculum. CC is part of the theme: Foundations of Clinical Practice. It is also included in the vertical theme of “Patient-centred education and communication”.

In the first two years of CC we introduce you to the concept of patient-centred interviewing. There is a strong evidence base supporting this approach. Although the focus of the CC is on the interpersonal communication that takes place between doctors and patients in a consultation, we interpret clinical communication in its broadest sense and explore ways in which you can communicate effectively within health care teams, using written communications for health care, and consider the influence of technology on communication.

The first year of clinical communication

The first year of CC is designed to provide you with a range of basic communication skills (verbal and non-verbal) relevant for working with patients, peers and clinicians. You will be able to identify a patient-centred consultation and will have developed basic relevant skills for opening, gathering information and closing interviews that explore patients’ experiences. You will also be aware of your strengths and weaknesses in communicating within some health care contexts and have clear strategies for the maintenance of your effective skills and improvement of your developing skills.

The second year of clinical communication

By the end of your second year, you should be able to begin to apply the basic skills learned in your first year with some of the basic requirements of medical practice e.g. taking a patient’s history. You will also be aware of your strengths and weaknesses in communicating within some health care contexts and have clear strategies for the maintenance of your effective skills and improvement of your developing skills. You will also be aware of difficulties that some patients have in communicating within health care settings (e.g. patients whose language is different to the clinician). Sessions in Year 2 will cover: Medical histories; interviewing a simulated patient; written communication; case presentations and cross-cultural communication and working with interpreters

Years 3-6

CC is increasingly integrated with clinical practice as you progress through medical school. In later years you will participate in communication sessions on a range of topics that include:

• Giving information about procedures
• Explaining risk information to patients
• Dealing with aggressive and violent patients
• Communicating with children (and their parents)
• Sharing difficult news patients and their relatives
• Communicating while conducting procedures
• Communicating with other health care professionals

CC is designed to support you in all the opportunities you will have to interview patients on your clinical attachments throughout your undergraduate years.