Jodi Donovan Spieser, MD (Class of 2009)
Faculty Preceptor:
Michael H. Farrell, MD
Assistant Professor, Medicine (General Internal Medicine), Pediatrics and Population Health-Bioethics
"I had the opportunity to work with Dr. Farrell the summer of 2005. We were interested in studying physician's communication skills and how to improve them in a cost-effective manner. In particular, we explored physicians' use of jargon and empathy during conversations about screening for prostate and breast cancer. By using a standardized method of assessing communication, we were able to quantitatively score residents' and physicians' abilities to communicate with patients. Because of the risks and benefits associated with prostate and breast cancer screening, it is important that physicians express the medical ramifications of screening in language that is understandable to patients. In addition, physicians need to demonstrate appropriate empathy for the patient's situation. We found that the majority of residents and physicians use a significant amount of jargon and infrequently assess for patients emotional reactions to discussions about cancer screening. The communication assessment method we used could be a cost-effective and standardized tool for the improvement of physician's communication in an academic or community practice."