Briefly in English

Patient encounter is the core event of health care. Effective patient communication methods are researched, developed and taught in the Healing Communication -project. The project started at the Department of Public Health at the University of Turku in 2022. It is based on the doctoral thesis of PhD Harry Köhler (2019), and it aims to gather more evidence about the healing communication -model in various doctor-patient encounters. Within the project, there are many research and development projects ongoing and beginning.

The healing communication -model signifies a communication method that helps a doctor to promote interaction between a doctor and a patient. Two questions guide the conversation. The purpose of the first question is to make the patient discuss the meaning of the illness or trouble to the patient’s everyday life and values. It helps the doctor understand the problem’s impact on the patient’s life instead of focusing on the diagnosis. The second question leads the patient to realise what they can do to enable the desired change. That is supposed to enhance the commitment to the care instruction or rehabilitation. The model is rapid to use in a short appointment, and it has already been shown to be an effective way to promote healing and rehabilitation.

Besides the research, the model has also been taught to the students at the medical faculty. The education has been carried out by two lectures and three small group sessions. There is a lot of discussion during both lectures and group sessions. The students learn to formulate the questions to fit themselves and to be used in future patient encounters. The students also observe and reflect on patient communication during some doctor appointments. The students’ feedback has been encouraging, and the students find the course very useful and motivating. The course is so far volunteer, and it is recommended to medical students in their second year. The aim is to get the course into the compulsory study programme.

The Healing Communication project aims to cooperate widely with social and health services of The Wellbeing Services County of Southwest Finland.

The main financier of the Healing Communication project is Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation.