Health Communication for medical students: Progress and Challenges in Public Health

Abstract

Abstract Introduction Health communication has gained space in medical debates, especially in the public health, since the quality of the communication process, until the context of the patient-physician relationship. The recently inaugurated Medicine courses in Brazil recognize the importance of this interface in the training of medical professionals since the first semester. Methods A questionnaire prepared by professors was applied to medical students from a Brazilian Midwest public university to evaluate their prior knowledge acquired of health communication. Fourteen questions previously prepared were subdivided into three categories. The category chosen for the presentation of these data were: The importance of the study of health communication for Medicine and Public Health. Results Sixty students were interviewed, and 78% of participants assessed the health communication as very important for the medical sciences. 47% say that within the university, this communication is good; 30% consider regular and only 18% feel great. 96% of the students believe that education is the most important factor in determining the quality of health communication process, even when compared with age variables and internet access. The importance of the study of communication to the doctor-patient relationship was considered beneficial, and 74% classified it as essential. Conclusions Thus, we noted that most respondents recognize the importance of health communication in their own training and doctor's relationship with the community. However, it is detected the existence of communication failures in the Brazilian health services, which shows the need for medical training to develop innovative and effective communication strategies in public health. The importance of the study of communication to the patient-physician relationship was considered beneficial, and classified as essential, for medical formation, which reflects in the Brazilian health care system. Key messages Communication failures in the Brazilian health services need attention: it's necessary to develop effective communication strategies in public health. The importance of health communication is recognized in students training and doctor's relationship with the community.