Expert tasks health professionals on communication skills

A communication expert, Mr Oladele Olunike, on Thursday, advised health professionals to develop communication skills that would be more effective in the delivery of quality healthcare.

Olunike gave the advice at the Annual Scientific Conference organised by the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Yaba, Lagos.

The conference has its theme as: “Passion and Professional Excellence: A prerequisite for the Nigerian Revolution’’.

According to him, effective communication is key to good quality healthcare delivery.

“The work of medical practitioners is firstly, a humanitarian work; so, there is the need for empathy.

“There is the need for identifying with the pains of the patients. When that is understood, it will guide the way the professionals talk to them.

“If our medical practitioners can choose their words, tone and body language carefully, they will be more effective in the delivery of their services,’’ Olunike said.

He said that effective communication was critical to helping patients adhere to treatment.

Olunike said: “If a task is difficult for your patients to carry out, but you use the right words and are empathetic, then it is easier for the patient to want to obey whatever it is that you have told him.

“Communication, therefore, is critical rather than being aggressive, forceful or using other means that may not be helpful.’’

The branch President, ARD, Dr Bolanle Ajayi, said that the theme of the conference was timely and called on residents to improve on their communication skills.

Ajayi said: “This year, we decided that the theme would not be only for academics, but non-academics as well.

“That is why we brought a communication expert to impact on us skills that will enable medical professionals excel in their profession.’’