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Published on: February 16, 2011
Improving Communication Skills in Medical Practice: A Narrative Review
Amar Deshpande1, Dileep Hoysal1, Shraddha Patkar2
1Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer, Tata Memorial Centre, Navi Mumbai, Mumbai, India.
Introduction:
Effective communication is a fundamental clinical skill that significantly influences patient outcomes, satisfaction, adherence to treatment, and medico-legal safety. Despite advances in medical technology, communication failures remain a major contributor to patient dissatisfaction, medical errors, and litigation.
Materials And Methods:
This narrative review examines the principles, models, and evidence underpinning effective communication in medical practice, including patient-doctor interactions, breaking bad news, shared decision-making, interprofessional communication, and training strategies. PubMed and AI search engines used to search for references for various aspects of the communication skills.
Conclusion:
The review highlights structured communication frameworks, empathy-driven approaches, and educational interventions that can enhance communication competence among healthcare professionals.
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