Appendix A – Professionalism: communication

Professionalism 3: Communication

The doctor sometimes communicates poorly, using words the patients cannot understand or talking in a way that makes them uncomfortable so that he/she cannot effectively reassure or help.					The doctor communicates effectively with a wide range of patients, using language with which they are comfortable, and is thus able to comfort and support them.
1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
Has little understanding of this.		Attempts to do this but is not yet skilful and sometimes runs into difficulty.				Attempts to do this and is usually successful but recognises his/her limitations.			Perfect

The doctor communicates effectively with:

Rarely

Occas
ionally

Fairly
frequently

Often

Usually

(a)

Small children.

(b)

Adolescent males.

(c)

Adolescent females.

(d)

The old.

(e)

Socially disadvantaged.

(f)

Ethnic minorities.

and, on occasion with:

(g)

Aggressive patients.

(h)

Angry patients.

(i)

Deceptive patients.

(j)

Distressed patients.

(k)

Disbelieving patients.

(l)

Flirtatious patients.

(m)

More than one patient at a time.