Communication counts

Editor - Carl Morris tackles an important aspect of medical training in his article about the importance of communication skills¹. However, his piece is inaccurate, unhelpful, and reinforces some of the medical stereotypes that he is presumably seeking to challenge.

"Official assessments" do not favour those with knowledge of obscure eponymous syndromes over those with a firm grounding in basic medical knowledge and good clinical skills-including communication skills. The new objective structured clinical examination (OSCEs) and OSLERs (observed structured long examination record) at the University of Newcastle place great emphasis on students' communication, demeanour, and attitude to their patients. Mr Morris can be sure that, during his final exams next summer, he will be asked numerous times about the impact of the disease on the person and social and psychological management issues. It is this knowledge and not that of "obscure syndromes" that is "rewarded with distinctions" at Newcastle.

Although I strongly agree with him about the importance of communication skills, I do not think that the best way to make his point is to attack, unfairly, the system that is training him. The University of Newcastle Medical School has been officially recognised as a top class institution and has also recently won a national award for its "challenging communication" work shops.

Unjustified attacks at a medical education system that has recognised its faults and is making noteworthy efforts to reform are all too common among medical students.^{2 3} Perhaps some acknowledgement of the progress that has been made in recent years and positive suggestions for future change would be more helpful. It would certainly demonstrate better communication skills.

Jean Adams, graduate, University of Newcastle Medical School
Email: jeanadams@bigfoot.com


studentBMJ 2001;09:261-304 August ISSN 0966-6494

1. Morris C. Communication counts. studentBMJ 2001;9:251.(July.)
2. Tipples K. Are we training the right people for medicine? studentBMJ 2001;9:252.(July.)
3. Searle E. Preclinical medicine is a glorified endurance test. studentBMJ 2001; 9:254.(July.)