Communication Skills among Surgical Trainees: Perceptions of Residents in a Teaching Hospital in Northern Nigeria

Abstract

ObjectiveCommunication between the surgeon and the patient is a core clinical skill. The ability to communicate with patients and their family members is very important in the optimum care of the surgical patient. Few studies have assessed communication between surgical trainees and their patients in sub-Saharan Africa. In response to this, the communication skills of residents in the department of surgery were evaluated to determine their perception of competency and perceived need for training in communication skills as a basis for developing an effective education programme. MethodA survey of patient care -related communication skills among surgery residents and assessment of competence, rating the importance and perceived need for training in communication skills. ResultsMost residents rated their skills as either fairly or extremely competent in all areas except in providing bereavement counseling. They found all skills important and indicated a need for training in them. Senior registrars rated their competence and the importance higher in skills relating to breaking bad news, educating and preparing patients and families for surgery and encouraging them to express their anxieties. (p < 0.05). There was no statistical difference in communication skills between male and female residents (p > 0.05). ConclusionResidents face difficult communication challenges with patients and their families. There is a dire need for improved education in communication skills. Understanding the surgical trainees perceptions of patient care related communication skills is the first step in designing an effective education programme.Key Words: Communication skills, surgical trainees, perception achieve higher level of patient compliance with surgical and non surgical treatment modalities and 1,4,5 build a relationship based on trust. Poor patient centered communication has been shown to be a hindrance to surgeonpatient relationship, decreases 8,9 patient satisfaction and increases litigations.Several studies suggest that surgeons have inadequate communication skills and quite a number of patients are unhappy with the amount of information given to them and the manner of delivery. 2,4,5,8,10

Breaking bad news in clinical setting - health professionals′ experience and perceived competence in southwestern Nigeria: A cross sectional study

“…This is similar to the findings of Ibrahim et al [30] in which the number of years of experience influenced the perceived competence in communication skills among their cohort of surgical residents; although, in our study, it appears that those who have had 3-7 years of experience felt less competent in this scenario than those with 1-3 years of experience. We do not have a ready explanation for the pattern, but we would like to posit that in reality, the excitement and perceived competence in performing a task tends to wane as the enormity and demands of such a task become obvious.…”

A Survey of Perceptions of Surgical Trainees on Feedback During Training in West Africa

“…This is similar to other studies where trainees generally want feedback, describing it as a tool for improving their surgical skills [36]. In a previous study on residents’ perceptions of the operating theater educational environment, Ibrahim et al showed that the residents were generally satisfied with operating theater as teaching environment [37]. However, among the subscale studied, learning opportunities had an overall unsatisfactory score.…”

“…However, among the subscale studied, learning opportunities had an overall unsatisfactory score. Less than one-half of the residents agreed that they had opportunity to develop the skills required at their stage, suggesting the need for creating a more supportive learning environment [37].…”

Teaching the surgical craft: Surgery residents perception of the operating theater educational environment in a tertiary institution in Nigeria

“…This similarity may be the result of a long self-sorting process that begins early in medical school for those who seek a career in surgery and increasingly, have or develop similar characteristics as grouping occurs through both medical school and the surgery residency program. [ 28 ]…”