This book provides anaesthetists, intensivists and other critical care staff with a comprehensive resource that offers ways of improving communication in everyday clinical practice, and provides practical communication tools that can be used in difficult or unfamiliar circumstances. It demonstrates how communication can be structured to improve patient care and safety with numerous practical examples and vignettes illustrating how the concepts discussed can be integrated into clinical practice, and presents ideas in a way that enhances clinical interactions with patients and colleagues and facilitate the teaching of trainees. Edited by practising anaesthetists with particular expertise in teaching communication, and with contributions from expert clinicians based in North America, Europe and Australasia, this book will stimulate and complement the development of comprehensive resources for communication skills teaching in anaesthesia and other related professional groups.

Table of Contents

SECTION I PRINCIPLES OF COMMUNICATION; 1. To begin..; 2. Structures; 3. How words hurt; 4. Language and the subconscious; 5. Narrative and Metaphor; SECTION II ROUTINE CLINICAL APPLICATIONS; 6. The pre-anaesthetic visit; 7. Consent; 8. Perioperative care; SECTION III SPECIFIC CLINICAL CONTEXTS; 9. The obstetric patient; 10. The paediatric patient; 11. Critical care; 12. When bad things happen; 13. Patients with special needs; 14. Needle phobia; 15. Intra-operative awareness; SECTION IV COMMUNICATION WITH COLLEAGUES; 16. Safety-critical communication; 17. The theatre team; 18. Teaching and research; 19. Administrators; SECTION V ADVANCED COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUES; 20. Hypnotic techniques

Reviews

Overall, this is an excellent resource on effective communication in healthcare. It brings up interesting communication concerns with patients interacting with anesthesiologists in different clinical contexts and it reminds one to prioritize patient perceptions that will allow patient autonomy and cooperation and decrease patient anxiety. This is an excellent introductory book on communication for trainee or consultant anaesthetists aiming to fine tune their interactions and teaching prowess ...suprisingly refreshing from the outset...I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend it to specialist registrars and consultants in respiratory medicine - go out and get a copy for your department. I enjoyed reading this book, and I have gained lots of useful tips from doing so... the book has a lot to offer the interested reader and would make an excellent addition to any bookshelf or departmental library. Anaesthesia