SOFT SKILLS
IN HARD TIME FOR MEDICAL PROFESSION

DR SANJAY JAIN PAST SECRETARY, IMA UP



SOCIETY CHANGED IN LAST 10 YEARS

HAVE WE ALSO CHANGED OR JUST FORGOT FEW OLD TEACHINGS?



MISTRUST IN SOCIETY FOR DOCTORS

1. DEGRADING MORAL VALUES & INTOLERANCE

2. YELLOW JOURNALISM

3. BIG HEALTHCARE DIVIDE

4. LACK OF COMMUNICATION

5. LACK OF EMPATHY

6. POOR RECORD KEEPING

 



How we perceive

Patient A Patient today Today

Few may call us predators but we are healers and shall remain so.

We need some changes in ourselves also.

A



PROBLEMS WITH MEDICAL FRATERNITY

• POOR COMMUNICATION

• LEADS TO ALL SORT OF ALLEGATIONS E.G. PRICY TREATMENT/DRUGS

• LACK OF EMPATHY

• ONE OF THE REASON FOR
ASSAULT

• POOR RECORD KEEPING

HIPPOCRATES SAID CURE SOMETIMES, TREAT OFTEN, COMFORT ALWAYS

ABILITY OF A DOCTOR TO PROVIDE COMFORT THROUGH HIS PRESENCE & WORDS

IS A FUNDAMENTAL COMPONENT OF GOOD MEDICAL CARE.

BE HUMAN, NOT ROBOT

 

COMMUNICATION IS A TWO WAY PROCESS

• A study concluded that around 70% patients were interrupted by doctors in their first sentence.

• Overall about 80% patients were interrupted by doctors while talking.

• Average consultation time in our country is around 2 minutes.
IS MAKING THE DIAGNOSIS IS OUR ONLY AIM?

COMMUNICATION

• Allowing patients to ask.

• Ensuring understanding.

• Aware of language.

• Compensate communication issues.

• Accept cultural influences.

• Compensate communication issues.





• Open attentive posture.

• Eye contact

• Use cues as nodding

VERBAL & NON VERBAL COMMUNICATION SKILLS

• BUILD A SHARED UNDERSTANDING.

• ENCOURAGE PATIENT TO TELL HIS STORY WITHOUT INTERRUPTION.

• MUST EXAMINE PATIENT.
PHYSICAL TOUCH IS MOST IMPORTANT FOR BONDING.



COMPASSION IS ALWAYS RIGHT

PATIENTS SACRIFICES

PRIVACY AND CONTROL

OVER MOST ASPECTS

OF THEIR LIVES.



“HEALING”
IT’S A PATIENT-DOCTOR RELATIONSHIP

TRUST, HOPE AND FEELING OF BEING CARED FOR ARE IMPORTANT FOR HEALING.

DESPITE TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES – CARING, COMPASSIONATE DOCTORS REMAIN THE BEST THERAPEUTIC TOOL

     



REMEMBER

• DON’T JUST LOOK BUT SEE.

• DON’T JUST HEAR BUT LISTEN

• DON’T JUST TOUCH BUT FEEL

• DON’T SHOW PITY BUT COMPASSION.

• DON’T FEEL SYMPATHY BUT EMPATHY

• TRUTH AND TRANSPARENCY BUILD TRUST

The joy of medicine is in doing good , that is why patients still confer a special status on us – we need to prove ourselves worthy of it.

Give few minute to patients, they deserve that.



THANK YOU