Doctors to learn the art of breaking bad news medical students to be taught Communication skills formally to prevent doctor-relative skirmishes

Doctors to learn the art of breaking bad news

medical students to be taught Communication skills formally to prevent doctor-relative skirmishes

Dealing with anxious relatives of patients is one of the biggest challenges faced by doctors. They are inundated with questions that are often difficult to answer, have to deal with frayed tempers and at times, convey bad news in the best possible manner. Aspiring doctors will learn how to tackle this in ‘communication skill’ — a special subject that will be introduced as part of the MBBS course from the academic year 2013-14. The Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS), a university of all the 18 medical colleges in the state, decided to introduce the subject after deans across medical colleges stressed on the need to teach communication skills as part of the undergraduate curriculum. Students will be taught how to speak to patients, understand the mental state of their relatives and effective ways of breaking bad news. “We are the first university in the country to introduce communication skill for MBBS students in three modules. At present, we are in the process of setting up a new board of studies,” said Dr Arun Jamkar, vice-chancellor, MUHS. “We are taking help from noted psychiatrist Dr Anand Nadkarni in formulating the module. We will take the approval of the academic council and give weight to the subject in terms of marks so that students take it seriously.” Dr Jamkar said a training programme in connection with the module was organised at BJ medical college in Pune last week. “The Medical Council of India (MCI) in its vision document for 2014 has also written about introducing a subject called communication and ethics,” he said. “The MCI had plans to add a special subject in the syllabus where 25 marks each were allotted to ethics and communication. Only taking workshops is not effective; the subject is necessary for those pursuing MBBS. Improper communication between doctors and relatives can create problems. There have been incidents when skirmishes have led to assaults on doctors with relatives vandalising hospital property as well,” said Dr TP Lahane, dean of JJ group of hospitals and academic council member of the MCI. Dr Ajay Chourasiya, head of cardiology department at Nair hospital, agrees. “The decision to introduce the subject is a welcome move. Communication plays an important role in the medical field. It will certainly help doctors,” he said.