HPER12-103: Health Communication

Description

This subject provides students with the essential communication skills needed for the health professions. Students learn to gather and provide information in a sensitive and professional manner. They will gain insight into the professionalism required for entry into any of the health professions as they are introduced to communication in challenging situations such as breaking bad news, dealing with suffering, maintaining confidentiality or managing angry patients.  Learning activities are focused on simulated situations including a problem-based learning (PBL) case where students develop an understanding of vital signs and emergency communication between health professionals. Skills are developed and practised in small tutorial groups with an experienced facilitator and with standardised patients. Small group learning provides students with an opportunity to become skilled at providing and reflecting on feedback from peers.

Subject details

Learning outcomes

1. Demonstrate communication skills for health-related assessment and guidance incorporating the principles of patient-centred care and the bio-psycho-social approach.
2. Demonstrate professionalism in health-related communication in challenging situations.
3. Describe how health providers communicate with patients from different ages, cultures, languages and disabilities.
4. Critically evaluate health-related claims in the media and medical literature.

Prerequisites

Please check the subject outline for pre-requisite subjects.

Subject outlines

• September 2018 [Standard]
• September 2017 [Standard]

Subject dates