Macter’s
communication skills workshop at Tabba
Heart Institute
Effective communication skills benefit
both
doctors and their patients
Karachi:
Macter International under its Continuing
Professional Education (CPE)
programme for doctors organized a workshop
on effective doctor-patient communication
skills, titled “Words that Heal,” at
Tabba Heart Institute on 24 February
2007.
Conducted
by Dr Ayesha Rauf—an experienced
communication skills trainer who has also
worked with AKU for its faculty development
programme—the workshop was aimed
at emphasizing the significance of effective
doctor-patient communication skills through
statistics; revisiting basic concepts of
effective communication skills; and imparting
hands-on experience of difficult consultations
through experiential learning.
Presenting
evidence the workshop informed the participants
that when doctors use
communication skills effectively, both
they and their patients benefit. Firstly,
doctors identify their patients’ problems
more accurately. Secondly, their patients
are more satisfied with their care and
can better understand their problems, investigations,
and treatment options. Thirdly, patients
are more likely to adhere to treatment
and to follow advice on behavioural change.
Fourthly, patients’ distress and
their vulnerability to anxiety and depression
are lessened. Finally, doctors’ own
wellbeing is improved.
The experiential learning session comprised
role play activities of the participants
with two professional actors who acted
as an elderly and difficult-to-handle female
patient and her son. The doctors interacted
with the patient and her attendant son
in various role-play situations and thoroughly
enjoyed and appreciated the experiential
learning activity.
Macter International will be conducting
a series of such workshops in line with
its commitment towards Continuing Professional
Education (CPE) for the medical community
in Pakistan,
The workshop at Tabba Heart Institute
was the first of the series and was attended
by more than 30 doctors from across Karachi.
