Key communication skills and how to acquire them
Open accessAbstract
Good doctors communicate effectively with patients—they identify patients' problems more accurately, and patients are more satisfied with the care they receive. But what are the necessary communication skills and how can doctors acquire them? When doctors use communication skills effectively, both they and their patients benefit. Firstly, doctors identify their patients' problems more accurately.1 Secondly, their patients are more satisfied with their care and can better understand their problems, investigations, and treatment options. Thirdly, patients are more likely to adhere to treatment and to follow advice on behaviour change.2 Fourthly, patients' distress and their vulnerability to anxiety and depression are lessened. Finally, doctors' own wellbeing is improved.3–5 We present evidence that doctors do not communicate with their patients as well as they should, and we consider possible reasons for this. We also describe the skills essential for effective communication and discuss how doctors can acquire these skills. #### Summary points We used original research studies into doctor-patient communication, particularly those examining the relation between key consultation skills and how well certain tasks (such as explaining treatment options) were achieved. We used key words (“communication skills,” “consultation skills,” and “interviewing skills” whether associated with “training” or not) to search Embase, PsycINFO, and Medline over the past 10 years. We also searched the Cochrane database of abstracts of reviews of effectiveness (DARE). ### Box 1: Key tasks in communication with patients RETURN TO TEXT
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Proficient communication enables accurate assessment, enhances client engagement, and contributes to positive treatment outcomes.
“Proficient communication enables accurate assessment, enhances client engagement, and contributes to positive treatment outcomes.”
Effective communication skills are fundamental for professionals in health and psychology, underpinning successful client interactions, therapeutic alliances, and overall intervention efficacy.
“Effective communication skills are fundamental for professionals in health and psychology, underpinning successful client interactions, therapeutic alliances, and overall intervention efficacy [1].”
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- Authors
- Maguire, P., & Pitceathly, C.
- Affiliations
- Cancer Research UK (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Maguire, Peter
- ORCID
- Maguire, Peter
- Venue
- BMJ
- Publisher
- BMJ
- Published
- 2002-09-28
- Volume
- 325
- Issue
- 7366
- Pages
- 697-700
- ISSN
- 0007-1447 (ISSN-L)
- 0959-8138
- 1468-5833
- PMC
- PMC1124224
- OpenAlex
- W2143421154
- Cited by
- 919
- References
- 25
- Citations by year
- 2026: 19 · 2025: 20 · 2024: 32 · 2023: 35 · 2022: 31 · 2021: 45 · 2020: 54 · 2019: 36 · 2018: 35 · 2017: 41 · 2016: 46 · 2015: 55 · 2014: 47 · 2013: 54 · 2012: 47
- FWCI
- 55.83
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- europepmc.org
- Licence
- www.bmj.com/company/legal-information/terms-conditions/legal-information/tdm-licencepolicy (tdm)
- Locations
- BMJ (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- DigitalGeorgetown (Georgetown University Library) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Patient-Provider Communication in Healthcare
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Empathy and Medical Education
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Innovations in Medical Education
- Keywords
- physician-patient communication, communication skills, consultation skills, interview skills, patient satisfaction, medication adherence, patient distress, physician well-being, communication training
- MeSH terms
- Communication, Education, Medical, Humans, Learning, Physician-Patient Relations, Physicians, Professional Competence, Teaching
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