Knowledge and attitude towards basics of communication skills amongst resident doctors

Background: The pillar of doctor patient relationship is the bond of mutual trust. This pillar is strengthened by effective communication between doctor and patient/relatives. It has been widely accepted that a doctor needs to have very good communication skills in addition to clinical knowledge and skills required for effective healthcare. Every doctor duly needs to demonstrate humanity, healthy behaviour, as well as sensible communication with patients which can build the sustainable ‘trust’ in the treatment offered by that doctor. However, the current curriculum of medical courses is enormously focused on providing competent medical knowledge but lacking the focus on inculcating communication skills.Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out amongst 377 resident doctors of first to third year, from randomly selected medical colleges of Maharashtra having postgraduate courses in clinical subjects and affiliated to Maharashtra University of Health Sciences, Nashik, Maharashtra, India during the period of February 2017 to January 2019. Data was entered in MS Excel sheet and analyzed using percentages and proportions wherever appropriate.Results: Highest study respondents were from General Medicine with 13% of total and having 17.4% males and 8% females among respective genders followed by General surgery and Pediatrics residents with 12.5% each specialty.Conclusions: The study has shown that there was varied knowledge about the communication skills among the resident doctors. The residents have shown fair attitudes and behaviours towards mindfulness and basic communication skills.

Doctor-patient relationship: effectiveness of an intervention training module on knowledge and attitude of resident doctors

Background: The mutual trust between doctor and patient, an indispensable part of the healthcare, is weakening day by day. This has resulted in unwanted incidences of violence and attacks on doctors. Communication between doctors and patients is an integral part of the relationship and is one of the major determinants of mutual trust. Apart from the knowledge and skills required to treat a disease, communication skill is an indispensable part of a doctor’s professional life. The resident doctors do not get a chance to learn and implement the communication skills required for the doctor patient relationship. Methods: An interventional study was carried out amongst 377 resident doctors of first to third year, from randomly selected medical colleges of Maharashtra having postgraduate courses in clinical subjects and affiliated to Maharashtra University of Medical Sciences, Nashik, Maharashtra during the period of February 2017 to January 2019. Results: There was significant difference in the pre and post test scores for quantified knowledge in relation to training in communication skills (p<0.0001), and also significant difference in the pre and post test scores for quantified knowledge in relation to basic doctor patient relationship, suggesting that the intervention was effective in improving the communication skills. Conclusions: The study has shown that there was significant difference in the pre and post test scores for quantified knowledge in relation to being doctor, basics of communication skills, doctor patient relationship, communication in special situation, and training in communication skills.