Medicos to be taught communication skills

The most difficult job for a doctor, perhaps, is the task of communicating properly with a patient. If s/he doesn't succeed in this, it could even lead to clashes with the patient's relatives over care given to the patient.

Taking cognisance of this factor, the Association of Medical Consultant (AMC), an umbrella organisation of super-specialty doctors, has decided to start a programme 'to mentor the upcoming consultant' through experts who will teach undergraduate and post graduate students how to establish good relationship with patients.

This project will begin on April 2 at Sion hospital, after which it will be organised in the remaining medical colleges in the city including JJ hospital, KEM hospital and BYL Nair hospital.

After taking charge as president of the AMC, Dr Sangeeta Pikale, a gynaecologist, decided to focus on this subject, which she feels is very important and should form a part of the academic syllabus of graduate and post graduate students.

Various health organisations and health activists have long been demanding that the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS) introduce communication skills in the undergraduate curriculum. Students, they feel, need to be taught how to speak to patients, understand the mental state of their relatives and the effective ways of breaking 'bad' news.

"Colleges teach us only core science, but in practice we need to master many things beyond that like art, science, commerce, legality of medical science, etc," said Dr Pikale. "Winners don't do different things, they do things differently. Doctors thus trained will go up the success ladder smoothly. And success will come only when they have empathy and concern along with skills," she added.

"This programme will not be restricted to Sion hospital. We will organise similar programmes in different medical college in the city and part of the state. Apart from this, medicos will also be taught subjects like financial literacy, insurance, etc," said Dr Pikale.

"Dealing with anxious relatives of patients is one of the biggest challenges that doctors face. They are inundated with questions that are often difficult to answer. Doctors will also have to deal with frayed tempers, and at times, will be required to convey bad news in the best possible manner. Hence, learning communication skills becomes important," said Dr Gustad Davar, medical director, Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital.