![]() Unfortunately, using effective skills is particularly difficult when the task is breaking news, the emotional level high and the information complex, as it is the case in oncological interviews.Īlthough it is widely recognised that physicians' characteristics could influence their communication skills in this context and lead to different communication styles, no empirical evidence is currently available. Information and support giving are effective only if given after exploring patients' feelings and if the information and the support given are realistic and take into account the interview coherence. ![]() Effective assessment skills promote the expression of cancer patients' concerns ( Maguire et al, 1996). They are the necessary tools required to assess ( Maguire, 1990), to inform ( Fallowfield and Jenkins, 1999) and to support ( Novack, 1987) patients adequately. Effective communication skills are, indeed, the key to achieve the three main purposes of physician–patient relationship. Researches on physicians' professional competence should also imply the study of those determinants. Researches on physicians' professional quality of life should thus imply the study of determinants of communication skills. ![]() For example, in a sample of 393 consultant nonsurgical oncologists in the UK, Ramirez et al (1995) found that physicians who felt insufficiently trained in communication and management skills had significantly higher levels of burnout than those who felt sufficiently trained. In oncology, the influence of those skills on professional quality of life has been frequently emphasised. Most physicians are aware that communication skills are of great importance and would like to be trained ( Calman and Donaldson, 1991). This result provides evidence that physicians' LOC can influence their communication styles in oncological interviews and in particular the way they provide information to the patient. Results show that physicians with external LOC give more appropriate information than physicians with internal LOC in simulated interviews ( P=0.011) and less premature information than physicians with internal LOC in clinical interviews ( P=0.015). Communication skills of the upper and lower quartiles of physicians in respect of their scores on this scale were compared using Student's t-test. LOC was assessed using the Rotter I-E scale. Communication skills were rated according to the Cancer Research Campaign Workshop Evaluation Manual. A total of 81 medical specialists were assessed in a simulated interview and a clinical interview. It was hypothesised that physicians with external LOC would take more into account others' concerns than physicians with internal LOC and would consequently use more appropriate assessment, informative and supportive functions. LOC is a generalised belief regarding the extent to which life outcomes are controlled by an individual's actions (internal LOC) or by external forces such as luck, fate or other individuals (external LOC). No studies are available on the impact of physicians' locus of control (LOC) on their communication skills. This would suggest that she has an external locus of control and sees external reasons for the failure.Although is it widely recognised that physicians' characteristics could influence their communication styles, no empirical evidence is currently available. Conversely, she could say that it was because the teacher couldn’t teach and the exam was not fair. This would mean she has an internal locus of control because she sees herself as to blame for the failure. She may say that it is because she didn’t work hard enough, and should have revised more. The basic idea of locus of control is that it describes the extent an individual feels in control of what happens to them and the extent to which they, as an individual, can affect their life.Ī strong external locus of control describes when someone believes what happens to them is luck or fate and that they are not in control of their life it is all due to external forces in their environment (for example other people).Ī strong internal locus of control describes someone who believes they are in control of what happens to themĪs an example imagine ‘Danielle’ does not do well in an examination. It is a continuum which runs from a strong external locus of control at one end of the continuum to a strong internal locus of control at the other end. Locus of Control (Rotter, 1966) is a construct that is said to be part of our personality.
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