About communication skills

Communication skills is part of the CIS (Communication and interpersonal skills). CIS is a different category from SEP. Many examinees passed the CIS easily but failed SEP. Also there are others failed CIS and passed SEP. As long as some key points are taken care of and done properly, CIS is easy to pass. Standard patients (SP) pass you on CIS based on the following points:

) introduced yourself, now is your chance to show some smile
) make eye contact. Some say that they are not good at doing this, while it is just to tell the patient by your eye that you are involved in this conversation
) use patient's name Mr. Ms. Mrs.
) express empathy, never forget the patient is here to SEEK help
) conveyed nonjudgmental attitude, avoid judging words like good, great,excellent, instead use all right, okay, thank you
) drape the SP
) use open-ended and non-leading questions, and ask one question at a time

) paraphrase is said to be important to keep the conversation going
) better not interrupt the patient
) use transitional phrases

) use lay language ( imaging studies instead of CT MRI or X-ray, Electrical study instead of ECG)

) summarize history
) gave explanation during physical
) appropriate reassurance
) diagnostic impression in lay language
) discuss the diagnostic tests
) ask if patient had any questions or concerns
) patient educations

Are these difficult to do? Not at all after enough practicing. Show SP your confidence as a his/her doctor and the secret is: practice makes perfect.