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JRCERT Update
Developing Effective Communication Skills
in Radiology Students
Chad Hensley, PhD, R.T.(R)(MR)
he development of soft skills is receiving greater The emphasis on increased patient satisfaction
attention because these skills are necessary for precipitated a shift from an illness-centered model of
success in today’s workforce. Soft skills include communication to a patient-centered model. This shift
8
Tcapabilities and character traits such as effective in focus placed more emphasis on improving the patient
communication, critical thinking, teamwork, and experience, in which communication has a large role.
9
empathy. As technology improves and becomes more Patients remember the personal treatment and interper-
automated, the need for soft skills is becoming more sonal communication they received from their health
important. However, employers report difficulty finding care provider more than their clinical or technical
candidates who possess sufficient soft skills. This gap quality of care. 10
1
in soft skills also is present in the health care field. 2,3 Patient-centered communication is a model commonly
Accrediting organizations of health care education used in health care and, for decades, has been reported
programs recognize communication as an essential to improve health outcomes and patient satisfaction.
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skill that should be included in curriculum. The The patient-centered communication model involves
Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, 3 goals: eliciting the patient’s perspective on the illness,
the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, understanding the patient’s psychosocial context, and
and the Liaison Committee on Medical Education reaching shared decision goals with the patient. 12
include communication skills as part of their standards.
The Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiology Communication
Radiologic Technology also recognizes the value in Because it is out of the scope of practice for a radiologic
developing effective communication skills and requires technologist to diagnose, a patient-centered approach
that programs include assessment that facilitates in radiology is different than a traditional patient-
program improvement (Standard 6.3). Patients have centered communication model. A radiology-specific
4
a better experience when their health care providers patient-centered experience is holistic and is derived
are effective at communicating with them. Despite from the scheduling process, imaging examination,
this increased emphasis on communication, recent reporting, billing, and future communications. The
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graduates have shown a lack of the communication radiologic technologist has the primary responsibility
skills employers seek. of communicating with the patient during the imaging
5,6
examination. Although the responsibilities of radiologic
Communication and the Patient’s technologists regarding a patient-centered approach
Experience might differ compared with other health care professions,
Verbal and nonverbal communication are essential having radiologic technologists with effective commu-
for developing interpersonal skills (ie, bedside manner). nication skills remains important.
Nonverbal communication includes empathy, listening, Radiologic technologists are directly involved with
posture, eye contact, and tone of voice, which factor patient care but perceive their role differently from
into effective communication and have been linked to other health care disciplines; they perceive their role as
patient satisfaction. 7 more procedural when providing information.
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RADIOLOGIC TECHNOLOGY, July/August 2022, Volume 93, Number 6 577
Reprinted with permission from the American Society of Radiologic Technologists for educational purposes. ©2022. All rights reserved.