Better communication begins with understanding how others experience us. Drawing on the SMACC communication workshop, this post and accompanying podcast explore listening, signposting, silence, manageable chunks of information and responding compassionately when people struggle to absorb difficult news.
Journal ClubCommunication Skills
Resources from the ‘Gambling with the Evidence’ workshop at SMACC Dublin in 2016. This collection takes clinicians from asking a useful question and finding research through critical appraisal, interpreting statistics and using journal clubs to bring evidence into practice.
What happens when an educator leaves enough silence for a learner to think? Natalie May explores ‘wait time’ before and after answers, reflects on a recording of her own teaching and suggests ways to notice interruptions, tolerate pauses and improve educational conversations.
Why did entertainment become a more visible part of medical education? In this 2015 reflection, Simon Carley considers digital access to information, reusable online resources and changing conference expectations, arguing that stories and engaging delivery can help learners think beyond memorising facts.
How can you make a clear referral from the emergency department to an inpatient team? Iain Beardsell and Simon Carley discuss preparing the conversation, using SBAR, making the purpose clear and anticipating questions, with approaches to disagreement, maintaining professional relationships and seeking senior support.
An August 2015 overview of NICE’s draft major trauma guidance during its stakeholder consultation. The post summarises the proposed approach to airway care, bleeding, imaging, analgesia and communication, and explains how clinicians could comment; it records the consultation rather than the final or current guidance.
Practical perspectives on trauma care and team leadership.
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