Browsing by Subject "Communication Skills"

Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
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    Evaluating A Diversity Program: Describing The Impact Of Gender Communication Training In A Large Multicultural Work Environment
    (Midwest Research-to-Practice Conference in Adult, Continuing, and Community Education, 2003) Suessine, Mary; Cseh, Maria
    The purpose of this evaluation study was to assess the impact of a gender communication program on employee learning, understanding, and application of its concepts in a large, multicultural Midwest utility company. The program was initially implemented by the organization when supervisors raised the need for better communication between genders in their departments. A mixed quantitative and qualitative research design was used to glean information related to the participants’ knowledge, understanding, and application of the program content. Content analysis and descriptive statistics of company documents, observation, and survey data led to the following major findings: (a) significant positive communication changes in and outside of the workplace, (b) a general consensus that respect for the opposite gender culture holds an important value, (c) increased awareness of program content as pertinent to situations in participants’ lives, (d) a high degree of motivation to use what was learned, and (e) the need for additional training, session follow-ups, and refresher learning aides. Based upon the findings, several recommendations were made that address pre and post program support for the participants.
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    Perspectives on Colon Cancer Screening—A Physician Panel Discussion for Preclinical Medical Students
    (Association of American Medical Colleges, 2020-10) Dilly, Christen K.; Craven, Hannah J.; Molleston, Jean P.; Medicine, School of Medicine
    Introduction Colon cancer is the third most common cancer in the US, and the survival rate improves drastically with early detection. It is important for medical students to understand screening options, and to be able to effectively discuss these options with their patients. While basic information about colon cancer screening is ubiquitous in US medical school curricula, no published curricula describe teaching students the nuances of negotiating this discussion with patients and tailoring screening to individual patients' needs. Methods We developed a 90-minute session for second-year medical students as part of a gastroenterology and nutrition course. We provided a short lecture on colon cancer screening. We then had a panel of practicing gastroenterologists and a primary care physician discuss their approaches to six hypothetical cases. The students reflected in writing on what they learned from the session and on their opinions of the session format. Results Of second-year medical students, 139 attended the session and 110 submitted written reflections on the session (79% response rate). The students perceived significant gains in knowledge, communication skills, and attitudes around the discussions. Discussion This expert panel session taught medical students knowledge and communication skills related to colon cancer screening. The session could be easily implemented at any medical school, either at the preclinical or clinical level.
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    The Power of Social Media in the Promotion and Tenure of Clinician Educators
    (Association of American Medical Colleges, 2020-08-10) Sotto-Santiago, Sylk; Sharp, Sacha; Mac, Jacqueline; Medicine, School of Medicine
    Introduction Social networking sites (or social media [SM]) are powerful web-based technologies used to bolster communication. SM have changed not only how information is communicated but also the dissemination and reception of a variety of topics. This workshop highlighted the benefits of SM for clinician educators. The use of SM was explored as a way to maximize opportunities for clinician educators to network, establish themselves as experts, and build a national reputation leading to promotion. The target audience for this submission is faculty developers who would like to implement a similar workshop, and clinician-educator faculty motivated by promotion and advancement. Methods The training workshop involved an interactive session, with approximately 20 minutes of content, 20 minutes of individual and small-group activities, and 15 minutes of large-group discussion. The effectiveness of the workshop was evaluated by asking participants to complete a postsession survey of SM knowledge, attitude, and action. Results Survey responses (n = 14) demonstrated an increase in participants’ knowledge of SM platforms, ability to identify benefits of SM, skills to disseminate their work, and eagerness to build their personal brand. Discussion This workshop provided a foundation for clinician educators to think strategically about SM use in ways that highlight access to a broader network of colleagues and potential collaborators and that influence the impact of publications and work.
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    A Review of the Evidence and Recommendations on Communication Skills and the Patient–Provider Relationship: A Rome Foundation Working Team Report
    (Elsevier, 2021-11) Drossman, Douglas A.; Chang, Lin; Deutsch, Jill K.; Ford, Alexander C.; Halpert, Albena; Kroenke, Kurt; Nurko, Samuel; Ruddy, Johannah; Snyder, Julie; Sperber, Ami; Medicine, School of Medicine
    Background & Aims Over several decades, changes in health care have negatively impacted meaningful communication between the patient and provider and adversely affected their relationship. Under increasing time pressure, physicians rely more on technology than face-to-face time gathering data to make clinical decisions. As a result, they find it more challenging to understand the illness context and fully address patient needs. Patients experience dissatisfaction and a diminution of their role in the care process. For patients with disorders of gut–brain interaction, stigma leads to greater care dissatisfaction, as there is no apparent structural basis to legitimize the symptoms. Recent evidence suggests that practical communication skills can improve the patient–provider relationship (PPR) and clinical outcomes, but these data are limited. Methods The Rome Foundation convened a multidisciplinary working team to review the scientific evidence with the following aims: a) to study the effect of communication skills on patient satisfaction and outcomes by performing an evidence-based review; b) to characterize the influence of sociocultural factors, health care system constraints, patient perspective, and telehealth on the PPR; c) to review the measurement and impact of communication skills training on these outcomes; and d) to make recommendations to improve communication skills training and the PPR. Results Evidence supports the fact that interventions targeting patient–provider interactions improve population health, patient and provider experience, and costs. Communication skills training leads to improved patient satisfaction and outcomes. The following are relevant factors to consider in establishing an effective PPR: addressing health care system constraints; incorporating sociocultural factors and the role of gender, age, and chronic illness; and considering the changing role of telehealth on the PPR. Conclusions We concluded that effective communication skills can improve the PPR and health outcomes. This is an achievable goal through training and system change. More research is needed to confirm these findings.