Communication Skills Training: A Means to Promote Time-Efficient Patient-Centered Communication in Clinical Practice

Authors

Else Dalsgaard Iversen, Lillebaelt Hospital, University Hospital of Southern Denmark; University of Southern Denmark; Odense University HospitalFollow
Maiken Wolderslund, Lillebaelt Hospital, University Hospital of Southern Denmark; University of Southern DenmarkFollow
Poul-Erik Kofoed, Lillebaelt Hospital, University Hospital of Southern DenmarkFollow
Pål Gulbrandsen, University of Oslo; Akershus University HospitalFollow
Helle Poulsen, Lillebaelt Hospital, University Hospital of Southern DenmarkFollow
Søren Cold, Odense University HospitalFollow
Jette Ammentorp, Lillebaelt Hospital, University Hospital of Southern Denmark; University of Southern DenmarkFollow

Publication Date

10-18-2021

Keywords

communication skills training, audio recordings, Calgary-Cambridge Guide, Observation Scheme-12, patient-centered care

Abstract

Purpose: We hypothesized that health care providers would behave in a more patient-centered manner after the implementation of communication skills training, without causing the consultation to last longer.

Methods: This study was part of the large-scale implementation of a communication skills training program called "Clear-Cut Communication With Patients" at Lillebaelt Hospital in Denmark. Audio recordings from real-life consultations were collected in a pre-post design, with health care providers' participation in communication skills training as the intervention. The training was based on the Calgary-Cambridge Guide, and audio recordings were rated using the Observation Scheme-12.

Results: Health care providers improved their communication behavior in favor of being more patient-centered. Results were tested using a mixed-effect model and showed significant differences between pre- and postintervention assessments, with a coefficient of 1.3 (95% Cl: 0.35–2.3; P=0.01) for the overall score. The consultations did not last longer after the training.

Conclusions: Health care providers improved their communication in patient consultations after the implementation of a large-scale patient-centered communication skills training program based on the Calgary-Cambridge Guide. This did not affect the length of the consultations.

Recommended Citation

Iversen ED, Wolderslund M, Kofoed PE, Gulbrandsen P, Poulsen H, Cold S, Ammentorp J. Communication skills training: a means to promote time-efficient patient-centered communication in clinical practice. J Patient Cent Res Rev. 2021;8:307-14. doi: 10.17294/2330-0698.1782