Communication Training for Obtaining Informed Consent

Part IV is meant for the senior faculty and the leaders who ‘Can’t go Wrong’. This part covers skills for organizing workshops, communication skills for the leaders in health professions education, conflict management, and the future of communication in a digital world.

The final part, Part V, is all about ‘Play Ping-pong’ which means one has to consider the requirements of a specific situation. This part includes sensitive issues like palliative care, the role of medical humanities, communication skills perspectives from Middle East, Southeast Asian perspective, besides chapters on salutogenesis approach and the role of music in therapeutic communication which is an emerging area of interest. The final chapter gives the take home that communication skills can be learnt.

The A, B, C, D, E Approach

The format of this book is entirely different. All the chapters have been organized in a uniform structure, what we describe as the A, B, C, D, E approach. This is based on the principles of adult learning besides the experience of editors.

A. B. C.

D.

E. Assess the need (This section states why this chapter is needed) Brief (Lists the key objectives or issues to be discussed) Contextualize (Presents one or two scenarios followed by one-minute exercise to ponder over the issue) Describe (Describes the main body of the chapter, ending up in conclusion in the form of bullet points) Evaluate (Raises a few questions or points to ponder)

We strongly suggest the readers to reflect on the scenario and take one-minute exercise as set induction for further in-depth reading of D-Describe section.

The Value Addition

In the beginning of each chapter of the book, we have designed a cartoon around a fictitious character Ms Comini. Through Ms Comini we have given the key message of the chapter. The exercise given at the end of each scenario helps the reader to reflect and think about the content of the chapter. The evaluation at the end of the chapter is meant for self-assessment.

In summary, this book is designed in a flexible manner to cater to the diverse needs of readers. Those who wish to browse the book with an eye on key message can simply do so, bypassing the description. Those who wish to make serious reading can make use of the exercise and evaluation for a deep engagement with the book. It is therefore, a new experiment. We will be happy to receive comments, feedback, and suggestions from readers for improving this work. After all, we are talking about communication!

Ms Comini

Ms Comini hails from a modest rural background. She starts her medical career in a premier medical institute. She is often subjected to a challenge of facing adverse situations during her training or while handling her job responsibility as a junior and then a senior faculty. However, with her positive thinking and innovative methods of handling situation, she comes out with flying colours. In fact, she converts problems into opportunities for learning and growth. Sometimes, she is an observer and at times she is a participant. Ms Comini represents a symbol of women empowerment which is taking place in India and many parts of the world. xiii