Short summary

This study was conducted in a follow-up design to evaluate communications skills training at Lillebaelt Hospital. We are measuring patient' perspectives on clinicians' communication skills, using an international survey named CAT. We are coding audio records from consultations to assess the patient centered approach, trained in the program. We are also working on refining assessment tools by identify poor communication skills in a qualitative study.

Rationale

Over the past decades, effective communication between patients and physician has been accepted to be fundamental to high-quality patient care and to patient's satisfaction with the health care system. The Clear Cut Communication Courses in Denmark has introduced communication skills training for all employees at Lillebaelt Hospital. The overall aim of this PH.D. project is to evaluate of communication program from a patient perspective Data from outpatient clinic at Lillebaelt Hospital and from the Department of Oncology, Odense University Hospital will form the basis for 3 sub-studies.

Description of the cohort

Patients visiting the outpatient clinic at the department of internal medicine, Kolding Hospital and Pain Center South are included in the following up study. For the qualitative study we included patients from the department of oncology, Odense University Hospital. 

Collaborating researchers and departments

Department of Public Health and Nursing, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway

• Professor Aslak Steinsbekk