No abstract

Primary care communication patterns range from narrowly biomedical to consumerist patterns and parallel the ideal forms of patient-physician relationships described in the literature.

Oncologists are hampered by inadequate communication skills training and will give up time to correct this. Subjective improvements reported immediately postcourse were maintained at 3 months. Resources for educational initiatives are needed to help both patients and their physicians.

Improvements in performance and diagnostic ability were equivalent between the groups and participants rated VP and SP cases equally. Including well-designed VPs has a potentially powerful and efficient place in clinical skills training for practicing health care workers.