To develop students' abilities to effectively communicate complex medical information to diverse patient populations with varying levels of health literacy, demonstrating empathy, clarity, and cultural sensitivity.
To enhance skills in assessing individual patient needs and concerns through active listening and appropriate questioning techniques to tailor counselling strategies effectively.
To apply psychological and behavioural theory concepts to support patients' emotional well-being and encourage treatment adherence and lifestyle modifications.
To cultivate problem-solving and decision-making competencies related to managing patient queries, addressing resistance or misconceptions, and delivering clear guidance on medication usage and follow-up care.
To build proficiency in documenting counselling sessions accurately and developing patient education materials that align with best practices and ethical guidelines.
To foster professional judgement and interpersonal skills necessary to work collaboratively with healthcare teams, respecting confidentiality and ethical considerations in patient interactions.
Conduct a simulated patient counselling session based on a given case study involving a chronic illness diagnosis (e.g., diabetes or hypertension), identifying patient concerns, literacy barriers, and emotional responses.
Analyze the patient's profile and design a tailored counselling plan encompassing explanation of the condition, treatment regimen, lifestyle advice, and motivational interviewing techniques to encourage adherence.
Draft a clear, concise patient information leaflet that complements the counselling session, addressing common side effects and practical self-care tips.
Role-play handling challenging scenarios such as patient resistance to medication or misinformation, employing conflict resolution and empathetic communication strategies.
Prepare and submit a detailed report documenting the counselling encounter, rationale behind communication choices, and reflections on improving patient engagement and outcomes.
Present the counselling approach and educational materials to a peer group mimicking a multidisciplinary healthcare team, soliciting feedback and demonstrating professional communication skills.
Make recommendations to improve patient support services based on insights gained during the project, considering resource constraints and multicultural patient demographics.
