NEJM Resident360 > Rotation Prep > Patient Communication > Introduction

Introduction

<div class="onepub-jats-front" id="10.1056/r360.i000951-front"><div class="onepub-jats-metadata two-column table"><div class="onepub-jats-row"><div class="onepub-jats-cell"><div class="onepub-jats-metadata-group"></div></div></div></div><div class="onepub-jats-metadata centered"></div></div><div class="onepub-jats-body" id="10.1056/r360.i000951-body"><div class="onepub-jats-section-container"><div class="onepub-introduction"><div class="onepub-jats-main-title"><h6 class="onepub-jats-title body-sec">Introduction</h6></div><div class="onepub-jats-section-title"><h2 class="onepub-jats-title">Introduction</h2></div><p>The practice of medicine requires medical professionals to communicate and establish relationships with patients, their relatives, and fellow medical colleagues. This rotation guide contains concepts to help you enhance your communication skills and navigate through difficult conversations.</p><p><b>The following topics are addressed in this rotation guide:</b></p><ul class="onepub-jats-list-unordered"><li><p><b><a href="https://resident360.nejm.org/rotation-prep/patient-communication/the-medical-interview/core-concepts" class="onepub-link-primary" target="_blank">The Medical Interview and Building Rapport</a></b></p><ul class="onepub-jats-list-unordered"><li><p>Tips on the medical interview, techniques for empathic communication, tools for information gathering, and how to obtain a thorough sexual and substance use history</p></li></ul><p></p></li><li><p><b><a href="https://resident360.nejm.org/rotation-prep/patient-communication/shared-decision-making/core-concepts" class="onepub-link-primary" target="_blank">Shared Decision Making</a></b></p><ul class="onepub-jats-list-unordered"><li><p>The definition of shared decision making, with online resources for implementing shared decision making</p></li></ul><p></p></li><li><p><b><a href="https://resident360.nejm.org/rotation-prep/patient-communication/health-literacy/core-concepts" class="onepub-link-primary" target="_blank">Communication Challenges and Health Literacy</a></b></p><ul class="onepub-jats-list-unordered"><li><p>Tools to improve communication with patients who have communication difficulties (e.g., language barriers, hearing impairment) and low health literacy</p></li></ul><p></p></li><li><p><b><a href="https://resident360.nejm.org/rotation-prep/patient-communication/delivering-bad-news/core-concepts" class="onepub-link-primary" target="_blank">Delivering Bad News</a></b></p><ul class="onepub-jats-list-unordered"><li><p>Helpful acronyms to structure a discussion with a patient and family member</p></li></ul><p></p></li><li><p><b><a href="https://resident360.nejm.org/rotation-prep/patient-communication/error-disclosure/core-concepts" class="onepub-link-primary" target="_blank">Error Disclosure</a></b></p><ul class="onepub-jats-list-unordered"><li><p>An overview of the literature on medical error disclosure and coping with making mistakes</p></li></ul><p></p></li><li><p><b><a href="https://resident360.nejm.org/rotation-prep/patient-communication/communicating-with-family/core-concepts" class="onepub-link-primary" target="_blank">Communicating with Family Members and Caregivers</a></b></p><ul class="onepub-jats-list-unordered"><li><p>A guide to improving communication between family members and caregivers</p></li></ul><p></p></li><li><p><b><a href="https://resident360.nejm.org/rotation-prep/patient-communication/communicating-with-colleagues/core-concepts" class="onepub-link-primary" target="_blank">Communicating with Colleagues and Medical Teams</a></b></p><ul class="onepub-jats-list-unordered"><li><p>Tools to improve communication between colleagues and medical teams (e.g., conflict resolution and handoff)<tt><br class="onepub-jats-br"></tt><tt><br class="onepub-jats-br"></tt></p></li></ul><p></p></li></ul><p>Other topics related to patient communication are covered in the following rotation guides:</p><ul class="onepub-jats-list-unordered"><li><p><a href="https://resident360.nejm.org/rotation-prep/geriatrics/geriatric-assessment-transition-of-care/fast-facts" class="onepub-link-primary" target="_blank">Geriatric Assessment and Transition of Care</a> (Geriatrics)</p></li><li><p><a href="https://resident360.nejm.org/rotation-prep/palliative-care/introduction" class="onepub-link-primary" target="_blank">Palliative Care</a><tt><br class="onepub-jats-br"></tt><tt><br class="onepub-jats-br"></tt></p></li></ul><div class="onepub-grayBox"><p>Rotation Prep was developed by a collaborative team of experts, educators, fellows, and residents including:<tt><br class="onepub-jats-br"></tt><b>Writers:</b> Ken Wu, MBBS MRCPCH; Ramya Ramaswami, MBBS, MRCP(UK), MPH (NEJM Fellows)<tt><br class="onepub-jats-br"></tt><b>Peer Reviewers:</b> Molly Elmer-DeWitt, MD; Shmuel Margolin, MD and Leigh Simmons, MD<tt><br class="onepub-jats-br"></tt><b>Section Expert:</b> Rachel Taliercio, DO<tt><br class="onepub-jats-br"></tt><b>Senior Editor:</b> Ole-Petter Hamnvik, MBBCh, BAO, MMSC<tt><br class="onepub-jats-br"></tt><b>Last updated:</b> February 2022 by Leslie Chang, MD </p></div></div></div></div>