This document discusses communication skills training for healthcare professionals. It aims to help practitioners evaluate and improve their ability to communicate effectively with patients, address patients' problems and concerns, and appreciate the need for support. Barriers to good communication include fears, time constraints, and beliefs that emotional issues are not the practitioner's role. Facilitators include active listening skills like reflection, paraphrasing, summarizing, and recognizing verbal and nonverbal cues to uncover patients' underlying concerns. The importance of addressing patients' priorities like dignity, clear information, and psychological support is also emphasized.

1. Dr Anne Arber & Dr Andrew Hoy University of Surrey, Guildford, UK Advanced Communication Skills