Effective doctor-patient communication skills training optimizes functional organization of intrinsic brain architecture: a restingstate functional MRI study

Zhang Bing,Wang Jinfan,Zhu Bin,Li Weiping,Wang Fangfang,Chen Fei,Nedelska Zuzana,Ni Ling,Gu Xiaohua,Wang Kun,Xu Jun,Zhang Xin,Liu Renyuan

doi:10.7555/jbr.31.20160135

Abstract

We studied the influence of doctor-patient communication skills training on brain functional architecture using resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) with a regional homogeneity (ReHo) method. Ten medical students participated in the study. A 1-year long doctor-patient communication skills training program was conducted. Rs-fMRI data were collected at baseline, one month and one year after training. There was a significant increase in the communication skills test average scores between baseline and 1-month duration of training (P<0.001). After one month of communication skills training, medical students had decreased ReHo in the right superior temporal gyrus compared with the baseline. After one year of communication skills training, students had increased ReHo in multiple regions and decreased ReHo in several regions (P<0.05, Alphasim corrected). The change of ReHo values in the superior temporal gyrus negatively correlated with the change of communication skills scale score between one month after communication skills training and baseline (r=–0.734, P= 0.036). The training program we used can be an effective approach of improving doctor-patient communication skills, and the training resulted in functional plasticity of the brain's architecture toward optimizing locally functional organization.

Highlights

Doctor-to-patient communication skills in China have gained increasing attention as the relationship between healthcare providers and patients have sharply deteriorated over the past decade[1]
According to a national survey administered to healthcare professionals, more than two-thirds of respondents agreed that there have been tensions and conflicts between doctors and patients[2], violence against medical professionals has become a common phenomenon[3], and inadequate communication with patients prevented improvement in doctor-patient relationship[2]
Decreased regional homogeneity (ReHo) values were observed in the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) and parahippocampal gyrus (P < 0.05, Alphasim corrected) (Fig. 2, Table 4)

Summary

Introduction

Doctor-to-patient communication skills in China have gained increasing attention as the relationship between healthcare providers and patients have sharply deteriorated over the past decade[1]. According to a national survey administered to healthcare professionals, more than two-thirds of respondents agreed that there have been tensions and conflicts between doctors and patients[2], violence against medical professionals has become a common phenomenon[3], and inadequate communication with patients prevented improvement in doctor-patient relationship[2]. This situation demands practical measures to improve doctors' caring competences and interaction skills with patients. Gebel et al found that the cerebro-cerebellar auditory-motor loop in trumpet players was activated by isolated, contextspecific motor tasks[12]

Methods

Results

Conclusion