Core Communication Skills Preview

Introduction

This package has been created because of our experience in training doctors to take the MCEM Part C examination. This exam involves a number of simulated clinical scenarios (known as OSCEs). We have found that some doctors struggle with parts of this if they have not had training in modern ideas on communication skills. This package is designed to provide a strong foundation in these skills.

The package has been designed to be valuable to doctors in any specialty, and also to medical students.

We would particularly recommend this package to doctors undertaking MCEM Part C who have not had in-depth communication skills training to use this package before progressing to the more specialised communication skills such as breaking bad news, dealing with an angry relative etc. These skills are covered in our MCEM Part C communications video training package.

The package includes three stages.

Stage One explains why focused attention on communication skills is so important, and why it has become a standard part of medical training. It covers the areas in medical consultations where research has shown that doctors’ communication could be better. And by the way, if you think this is something you are already good at then be warned – most research has shown that doctors overestimate their skills in this area considerably! This stage has five videos of about six minutes each.

Stage Two describes the Calgary-Cambridge guide. This guide to good consultations is freely available, and is now used across most medical schools in the UK. The four videos, totalling about 45 minutes, in stage two break the guide down, and explain and illustrate it.

Stage Three takes you through a step by step programme to improve your own communication skills, with six downloadable documents.

if you would like to go ahead and use this package, it is available for £10 for one month access. Subscribe by clicking the Paypal button in the top right of this page.