The Value of Assessing and Addressing Communication Skills
- Gregory Makoul, PhD;
- Raymond H. Curry, MD
- Author Affiliations: Center for Communication and Medicine, Department of Medicine and Division of General Internal Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois.
- Corresponding Author: Gregory Makoul, PhD, Center for Communication and Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 676 N St Clair, Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60611 (makoul{at}northwestern.edu).
Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text.
- KEYWORDS:
- COMMUNICATION
- EDUCATION, MEDICAL
- EDUCATION, MEDICAL, GRADUATE
- PATIENT-PHYSICIAN RELATIONSHIP
- PHYSICIANS
- PROGRAM EVALUATION
Research published in the late 1960s by Korsch et al1-2 is widely considered the foundation for contemporary inquiry into the patient-physician relationship. In a diverse set of studies since then, effective communication has been linked with increases in patient and physician satisfaction, better adherence to treatment plans, more appropriate medical decisions, better health outcomes, and fewer malpractice claims.3-6 Recent research has provided evidence-based guidance about specific aspects of the patient-physician interaction, such as greetings and self-disclosure.7-8 In addition, surveys continue to indicate that physicians are the preferred source of health information,9 highlighting the importance of ensuring effective patient education and counseling.
Education and accreditation initiatives have evolved along with the research trajectory.10 Indeed, the focus on communication now extends throughout the continuum of medical education and practice: US and Canadian medical schools must teach and assess communication skills to …
