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Review
. 2014 Mar-Apr;21(2):89-91.
doi: 10.1155/2014/780270.

Improving medical communication with patients and families: Skills for a complex (and multilingual) clinical world

Peter G Brindley, Katherine E Smith, Pierre Cardinal, Francois LeBlanc
Review

Improving medical communication with patients and families: Skills for a complex (and multilingual) clinical world

Peter G Brindley et al. Can Respir J. 2014 Mar-Apr.

Abstract

It has been reported that suboptimal communication represents the largest source of preventable error during acute medical care. Because a significant proportion of ongoing care relies heavily on verbal communication, it is incumbent on clinicians to develop, hone and maintain these skills in the interests of their patients and, at the same time, contribute to a more reliable and patient-focused health care system. This review briefly discusses why communication matters, practical strategies from both inside and outside clinical medicine, the implications of poor translation and the state of medical communication in Canada.

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