Communication Skills in End-of-Life Care
The quality of physicians' and nurses' communication with patients is determined not only by their medical competence but also by their psychological skills. Complex issues and emotionally-charged topics like dying and death should be discussed with the persons affected - who are often quite vulnerable with re-gard to their cognitive and emotional state – in a professional manner.
Project description (completed research project)
The quality of physicians' and nurses' communication with pa-tients is determined not only by their medical competence but also by their psychological skills. Complex issues and emotionally-charged topics like dying and death should be discussed with the persons affected - who are often quite vulnerable with regard to their cognitive and emotional state – in a professional manner.
Aim
This study will develop a training programme on communica-tion at the end of life. The training programme will be based on an analysis of the training needs of physicians and nurses who care for dying patients. The most important issues regarding end of life, the associated psychological challenges, and required communication skills will be identified by means of group discussions (focus groups) with physicians and nurses. Based on this analysis, a specific training programme will then be designed, and its effectiveness will be tested in a pilote study.
Relevance
The training programme for "communication at the end of life" devel-oped in this study aims to enable physicians and nurses to be more competent when facing patients whose death is forseenable. Through self reflection, training in specific communication skills and insight with regard the clinician-patient relationship, clinicians should learn how to respond adequately to the needs of the patients.
Original title
Communication skills in end-of-life care