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

• Published in: Journal of patient-centered research and reviews 2021-10, Vol.8 (4), p.307-314
• Main Authors: Iversen, Else Dalsgaard, Wolderslund, Maiken, Kofoed, Poul-Erik, Gulbrandsen, Pål, Poulsen, Helle, Cold, Søren, Ammentorp, Jette
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: calgary-cambridge guide; communication skills training; observation scheme-12; Original Research; patient-centered care
• ISSN: 2330-0698; 2330-068X; 2330-0698
• DOI: 10.17294/2330-0698.1782

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. 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. 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. 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.