Communicative Skills in Medical Students

Abstract

Positive interaction between the doctor and the patient affects the treatment outcome, as well as the level of satisfaction with healthcare services. Many young doctors experience communicative issues that can lead to negative consequences for all stakeholders. The research featured various problems in shaping communicative skills in medical students. It involved a review of scientific publications, a survey of first-year medical students (n = 20), and an analysis of 40 negative feedbacks from patients. The communicative issues included: lack of eye contact / active listening, misleading mimics, inappropriate intonation / voice volume, violation of private space, insufficient or excessive amount of information, lack of bedside manners / respect for patients. The list of communication skills to be mastered by medical students in order to improve the quality of medical care included: eye contact, self-presentation, active listening, conflict management, strategies of delivering bad news, and conclusion phrases. The data obtained make it possible to identify key aspects that affect the formation of communicative skills in future doctors, as well as to propose methods for its improvement at university level. The authors emphasize the importance of developing communicative skills in future doctors to provide high-quality medical care and prevent emotional burnout in young professionals.