Communication skills training improves patients’ participation in medical interviews

This research tested the effectiveness of training designed to improve patients' communication skills in information exchange. In each of 25 offices, 6 patients participated in the study of which 2 were classified as informed, 2 were trained and remaining 2 were in the control group (nested design). The group of trained patients underwent communication technique designed by Anderson and Sharpe utilizing 10-20 minute simulated interviews. The group of informed patients could only read an information booklet before the interview and the control group did not obtain any information. The results indicate that trained patients engaged in more effective information seeking, gave physicians more detailed description of their medical condition and also tended to better summarize the information they obtained. They also demonstrated better patient-controlled style of communication the other two groups.

Source: Patient Education and Counseling 42 (2000) 209-222