Lifelong Learning Programme

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.
This web site reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

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Training of Lecturers

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This training package is addressed to lecturers and trainers in the field of paediatrics on how to assist paediatric undergraduate and resident students in developing and consolidating their soft skills for improving the quality of paediatric services.

Communicating in a multilingual environment

Table of Content

Introduction
In a more globalizing world an increasing number of children are raised in an intercultural context. Often, they act as bridge-builders for their parents who do not appear as adaptable to rapid cultural changes as children do. When children need medical treatment, difficulties for both the parents and the attending pediatrician arise. Additional to the age-gap between physician and child, language problems can complicate communication among doctors and parents. The use of medical terminology can impede the necessary comprehension of therapeutic treatment.

Learning to communicate across cultural and language barriers is more than translating instructions into another language or learning a few words of a client's primary language. Moreover the practitioner must be aware of the cultural beliefs and customs that are important to their clients and how these cultural factors influence health, health care seeking, and compliance with treatment programs. Clients must be active participants in the planning of interventions to benefit their own or their children's health, and pediatric physical and occupational therapists have a responsibility to learn how to help them to do so. In this context the triangle of communication may be much more sensitive and an emphatic acting is even more important.

With this program, pediatricians will be trained to manage critical everyday situations. The aim is to provide training with practical orientation. By means of question modules, case examples and expert interviews, trainees will improve their soft-skills. Furthermore, there will be a focus to advance communication with professional and community interpreters. A sensitive and appropriate doctor-patient contact ensures the best possible atmosphere for healing prospects. Therefore it is important to create a playful environment that alleviate the fear of minors and avoid unnecessary stressful experiences in the hospital.

Soft skills
Some of the most important soft skills for pediatricians to facilitate communication in a multicultural or multilingual environment are detailed below:
  • Active listening: The experience of being heard and accepted forms the basis for trust and cooperation between patients and practitioners
  • Techniques of reassurance: Removes doubt or fear and restores confidence. Includes verbal and nonverbal aspects of communication
  • Empathy: The cornerstone of the physician–patient relationship. It is the physician’s ability to cognitively recognize a patient’s perspectives and experiences, and convey such an understanding back to the patient
  • Awareness for cultural sensitive incidents: The pediatrician is able to discern situations that are culturally charged and could lead to misunderstandings or breakdown of communication
  • Openness/unprejudiced attitudes: The pediatrician avoids demeaning, hurtful, judgmental or other forms of derogatory comments about the client’s culture and is open to viewpoints different from his or her own
Online Resources
  • Soft-Skill: Intercultural CompetenceThis video explains the soft-skill „Intercultural Competence” and stresses the importance in an ongoing globalizing word.
  • Avoid StereotypesThis video is an exaggerated sketch about cultural misconceptions and inaproppiate behavoiur that is influenced by stereotypes.
  • Soft-Skill: EmpathyThis video explains the soft-skill „empathy” and the impact to an improved communication.

Table of Content

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This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This web site reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.