Training in communication skills for self-efficacy of health professionals: a systematic review

Abstract

Background Communication skills are essential for health professionals to establish a positive relationship with their patients, improving their health and quality of life. In this perspective, communication skills training can be effective strategies to improve the care provided by professionals in patient care and the quality of health services. Objective To identify the best available evidence on training programs in communication skills to promote changes in attitude and behavior or self-efficacy of health professionals. Methods Systematic searches were performed in eight databases, evaluating Randomized Controlled Trials and quasi-experimental studies with a control group, focusing on training communication skills for health professionals, who assessed self-efficacy or behaviors related to these skills. The phases of study selection and data extraction were carried out by two independent researchers, and the conflicts were resolved by a third. The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane method. Results Eight studies were included in the review. Most programs lasted between 4½ h and 2 days, involved information about communication skills and the content was applied to the health professionals’ context. Several teaching strategies were used, such as lectures, videos and dramatizations and the evaluation was carried out using different instruments. Improvements in the performance and in the self-efficacy of communication skills were observed in the trained groups. The RCT had a low risk of bias and the quasi-experimental studies had a moderate risk. Conclusion Training in communication skills can improve the performance and self-efficacy of health professionals. Programs that approach the conceptual issues and promote the space for experiential learning could be effective in communication skills training for professionals. PROSPERO: CRD42019129384

Burnout in Hospital-Based Healthcare Workers during COVID-19

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Talking with pediatric patients with overweight or obesity and their parents: perceived self-efficacy and barriers of Dutch healthcare professionals from seven different professions. A self-report study

“…Furthermore, many HCPs perceived more problems in talking about weight and lifestyle in cases when parents had overweight or obesity, and/or when they expected that the child and/or parent would react negatively. This relates to stigmatization of people with obesity that is present among the general public as well as among HCPs (20,21) and asks for education in communication strategies to address this sensitive topic (22), thereby improving HCP's perceived self-e cacy and reducing barriers (2,14,15,23,24). Furthermore, the majority of doctors (GPs, YHCPs and pediatricians) reported that insu cient time is a barrier to talk about weight and lifestyle.…”

“…Furthermore, the majority of doctors (GPs, YHCPs and pediatricians) reported that insu cient time is a barrier to talk about weight and lifestyle. This is a commonly reported barrier in other studies as well, and asks also for health delivery system changes (2,14,15,23,24). Next to education, an improved and sustainable nancial and infrastructural framework is necessary to reduce the obesity stigma, improve obesity care for children, and positively impact HCP's perceived self-e cacy and barriers (6,9,20,21).…”

Patient Satisfaction and Hospital Quality of Care Evaluation in Malaysia Using SERVQUAL and Facebook

“…Furthermore, this research has highlighted three SERVQUAL characteristics, namely reliability, responsiveness, and empathy, that need additional attention and improvement on the part of Malaysian healthcare authorities. Enhancing interpersonal skills training, especially for medical students, ongoing training for health professionals in the workplace, and lean model adaption will substantially enhance the quality of treatment that is currently lacking [79,80]. However, health authorities must realise that the findings are unlikely to be representative of the whole population served by hospitals.…”