Communication between consultants and referring physicians: a qualitative study to define learning and assessment objectives in a specialty residency program.
Outpatient consultation constitutes a major part of medical practice. However, little is known about the skills which should be taught to residents in order for them to improve their consultant-referring physician relationships.
To specify the consultant skills which are required to ensure an effective communication between specialists and referring physicians.
A qualitative study based on (a) a literature search and (b) focus group interviews.
Skills thus identified and described are classified in two groups: observable skills and principles/attitudes.
The consensual specification of these abilities permits a greater efficacy in the teaching of consultant skills.