[A focus on incidents and patient communication skills in the training of internists].

Development of communication skills is an important aspect of the training of young physicians. In our hospital, we have developed a programme consisting of monthly 1-hour meetings in which the residents in internal medicine discuss incidents and communication problems with patients or their relatives. During these meetings, residents give feedback to each other under the supervision of the consultation-liaison psychiatrist. Important issues that have been discussed include refusal of treatment by patients, how to handle aggression, how to respond to complaints, relating bad news to patients, euthanasia, and dealing with personal problems or work-related stress. The meeting is well attended and appreciated by the residents. We believe that this approach of improving communication skills based on actual problems encountered in daily practice makes a valuable contribution to the training of young doctors.