Training improves inter-collegial communication.

Background: Good intercollegial communication is a relatively unstudied topic, although it is important for both health professionals and patients, contributing to enhanced well-being, self-awareness and integrity for health professionals, and positively affecting patient outcome and satisfaction.

Objective: To investigate whether a communication skills training course would improve intercollegial communication in an orthopaedic department.

Methods: The study was designed as an intervention study investigating the effectiveness of an in-house training course, evaluated by means of questionnaires.

Results: A total of 177/181 (97.8%) participants answered the questionnaire before (T1), 165/169 (97.6%) immediately after (T2) and 150/153 (98%) 6 months after the course (T3). Of six questions about intraprofessional communication, one and two questions were evaluated significantly higher at T2 and T3, respectively. Of the six questions about interprofessional communication, the increase was statistically significant for four questions in T2 and for five questions in T3, respectively.

Conclusion: A communication skills training course improved health care professionals' assessment of intercollegial communication, and this was more pronounced in interprofessional rather than in intraprofessional communication, and was more pronounced 6 months after the training course than immediately after the training course.

Practice Implications: Communication skills training for health care professionals is recommended, and should also include all health care professions that have patient contact.