24 January 2007

How to communicate

A Dundee University lecturer has finally written a book she has been mulling over since her experiences several years ago as the mother of a sick child.

Cathy Jackson, a clinical Senior Lecturer at Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, University of Dundee, says, "My son was in York Hill Sick Kids Hospital several years ago and it was quite an eye opener at that time to learn how we as medical staff might come across to patients and their relatives. Although the message might have been the same, it was delivered in different ways by different members of staff, some were very very good but some were really pretty bad and left us feeling very anxious or frustrated. The way in which information was given certainly made a very big difference to us as parents at a time when we were very worried."

"Lack of good communication between doctors, nurses and their patients can lead to all kinds of misunderstandings. If we as health professionals don't take the time to listen to what patients are trying to tell us it can lead to poor diagnoses or treatment, and if we are not able to give information to our patients in a way that they are able to understand and remember we are not doing the best that we can for them"

Cathy has helped to teach the importance of good communication skills to medical students for the last few years as part of their training and it was while doing this two years ago that she read of Dundee University Press's innovative "Best new book idea" competition. She put her idea forward and was delighted to win their first award. She was even more delighted when asked if she would like to go ahead and write the book and this month her book, "Shut Up and Listen!" A Brief Guide to Clinical Communication Skills, is published by Dundee University Press.

"Medical students are now given a lot of training in the skill of communicating with patients, as are nurses and other health professionals, so I hope this book can help them. It is written in clear English with cartoons, drawn by Geoff Gadd, Professor of mycology at the University and a cartoonist in his spare time, to illustrate important points and keep it light hearted. Most students won't trail through heavy text books unless they have to, but I hope they will pick up this book as it is an easy read."

Cathy hopes that all staff members who deal with patients will read this book which aims to show staff how to improve communication in all sorts of consultations from the very simplest encounter to more challenging ones such as breaking bad news or consulting through interpreters. In grateful recognition for all the help that she was given when her child was ill, Cathy has donated half of the royalties from the book to York Hill Children's Hospital.

Shut Up and Listen, by Cathy Jackson is published by Dundee University Press and is available from Amazon, priced £9.99.

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