Medical Communication: Research and Teaching

Friday morning brought a great variety of subjects and personalities to the 94th NCA Convention. Amongst them, a short course on applied medical communication taught by Theodore Avtigs and Edward Polack from the University of West Virginia. 

Through the presentation of new communication research generated in the medical field, the course was aimed at exposing instructors and  health communication and medical professionals to the aspects of applied interpersonal medical communication.

During a brief interview, instructor Theodore Avtigs pointed out that the role interpersonal communication plays in the medical arena is of such grand importance, that research and teaching on the matter is vital for health professionals.

According to Avtgis, communication research in this subject helps identify and improve the communication processes that take place within the practice of medicine. Amongst other topics,the course focused on showing the positive results that a timely identification of problems in interpersonal interaction may have in the field of health care.

Medical and health communication are areas of great interest at this year's convention. The top fours papers in health communication will be presented on Saturday, November 22nd at 12:30pm in the Manchester B room.