IMPACT OF COMMUNICATION IN HEALTHCARE: MEDICAL IMAGING AND RADIOTHERAPY PERCEPTIONS
Synopsis
Currently, establishing proper human interaction is essential for the integrity and synergy of any organised system. Promoting advanced communication skills has become a pressing priority in all professional sectors, especially in healthcare. Objectives: To assess the perceived importance of health communication skills (HCS) among first- and fourth-year Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy (MIR) students and MIR healthcare professionals. Methodology: The sample was composed by 31 first-year students, 30 fourth-year students, and 30 MIR professionals. Participants completed a questionnaire adapted from the HCS curriculum for healthcare professionals, which addresses the importance of HCS on a Likert scale. Results: First-year students revealed that they cared more about the HCS of active listening, empathetic listening, eye contact, empathy and respect, emotional support, facial expressions, and tone of voice (p≤0.05) compared to fourth-year students and healthcare professionals, who did not show statistically significant differences between themselves. Conclusions: Given this devaluation of the importance of HCS throughout academic graduation and in the transition to the professional environment, it is necessary to develop adapted and person-centred communication in order to promote quality, satisfaction, and safety in healthcare.
