Improving Medical Communication: Skills for a Complex (And Multilingual) Clinical World

Abstract

It has been reported that suboptimal communication represents the largest source of preventable error during acute medical care. Because a significant proportion of ongoing care relies heavily on verbal communication, it is incumbent on clinicians to develop, hone and maintain these skills in the interests of their patients and, at the same time, contribute to a more reliable and patient-focused health care system. This review briefly discusses why communication matters, practical strategies from both inside and outside clinical medicine, the implications of poor translation and the state of medical communication in Canada.

Effects of demographic factors on provision of feedback in postgraduate medical education

“…Since communication can be one of the most useful tools at a clinician's disposal, it is vital that registrars be well-trained in this skill (Brindley et al 2014). Singh et al (2013) report that the ability to communicate well is one of the most highly rated qualities of effective medical teachers.…”

Preventing Conflicts Between Nurses and Families of a Multi-ethnic Patient Population During Critical Medical Situations in a Hospital

“…Some studies discuss more specific measures. These include the value of intercultural mediators, interpretation services, and staff from ethnic minority groups (Bracht, Kandankery, Nodwell, & Stade, 2002;Brindley, Smith, Cardinal, & LeBlanc, 2014;Chevannes, 2002;de Graaff et al, 2012;Denier & Gastmans, 2013;Kai et al, 2007;Nierkens, Krumeich, de Ridder, & van Dongen, 2002;Price, Pérez-Stable, Nickleach, López, & Karliner, 2012;Renzaho, Romios, Crock, & Sønderlund, 2013).…”

CALD Assist—Nursing: Improving communication in the absence of interpreters

“…Good communication in clinical settings is key to avoiding medical mishaps (Manojlovich et al, 2015;Sutcliffe, Lewton, & Rosenthal, 2004). In acute hospital settings, assessment delays for culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) patients are common as clinicians require interpreter services, and for a variety of reasons, this may not be immediately available (Brindley, Smith, Cardinal, & LeBlanc, 2014). In Australia, interpreter demand is unsurprisingly high, given that the communities served by Australian hospitals vary in cultural diversity, with some hospitals serving areas where more than 150 languages are spoken.…”