The Communication Environment

I am planning a new, upcoming webinar on setting a positive tone for team communication by creating a supportive communication environment. A supportive communication environment is one in which all members feel free to raise ideas, believe their ideas and contributions are valued by the rest of the team, and understand that sometimes a team needs to change course in order to achieve their shared goals. On the other hand, a defensive communication environment is one in which members pursue hidden agendas, discount other team members' contributions and are so certain that their way is the right way that they are no longer to objectively assess realities facing the team. Ultimately, supportive communication environments are productive and able to achieve the team's goals, while defensive communication environments are destructive.

What do you want to know about setting a supportive communication environment in your research teams? What do you think I should discuss in this presentation?

Association of Clinical Research Professionals Global Conference

I am excited to be presenting next week at the Association of Clinical Research Professionals Global Conference in Houston, Texas. I am presenting on communication strategies for working with collaborators at multiple institutions. In addition to presenting, I am looking forward to attending sessions on research ethics and clinical research project management. And as always, I am looking forward to connecting with my fellow clinical research professionals.

If you are in Houston for the conference, stop by room 332 on Sunday and say hi. Maybe even stay and learn something about communication.

Testing health web sites

InformationWeek has an interesting slide show this week examining health information web sites. The accompanying article has some good questions that consumers should ask when seeking health information online. Among the questions consumers should ask: Who sponsored the research study or health information presented?

A great health communication resource from the CDC

The Centers for Disease Control has a number of great health communication resources designed to help professional communicators of all types share important health messages with the public. Among the resources in the Health Communication Science Digest, a monthly summary of emerging health communication research and innovation from across the country and across disciplines. There is a lot of great new research emerging in the field of health communication and all of us doing that research have the same ultimate goal, to better spread health messages to individuals and to the public. The CDC Health Communication Science Digest is definitely a site I will be keeping an eye on to keep tabs on the latest research to help us all reach that worthy goal.

Is it time to reconsider direct-to-consumer prescription drug advertising?

Forbes Magazine featured an article last week from a former pharmaceutical executive who asks if it is time to reconsider direct-to-consumer prescription drug advertising. The author claims that the purpose of the advertising was patient education, but the educational benefits may not be playing out, especially if consumers find the advertisements offensive or annoying. Also the long lists of potential side effects may make the messages meaningless to potential consumers. The advertisements have also carried risks and benefits for the drug companies, but it may be time to consider another approach.

The power of storytelling

My hometown newspaper The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel ran a story today about the power of storytelling for patients and physicians. Letting patients talk longer and tell their story reveals more detail to physicians that can help them make a diagnosis. But it's not just talking to a doctor. Patients hearing the stories of other patients also helps them to think more about their own symptoms. The story and the studies it cites demonstrate the importance of communication in health care, not just doctors talking to patients, but doctors listening to patients and patients listening to peers.

Doctors lying to their patients

The Seattle Times and other outlets reported on the results of a physician survey published in Health Affairs this week that asks doctors about if and when they lie to their patients. According to the article, " Nearly 20 percent said they hadn't fully disclosed a medical mistake for fear of being sued. And 1 in 10 of those surveyed said they'd told a patient something that wasn't true in the past year."

The survey results point to the importance open communication by both doctors and patients. Doctors may feel they are ultimately helping the patient by lying or omitting information. Given that, it is particularly important for patients to be very clear about what and how much information they want. It is also important for physicians to realize that in order for patients to play an active role in their health care, they need honest and open information from their doctor.