The medical profession is inextricably linked with communication and interaction with people. And especially in the modern world, it is necessary to know the principles of communication with patients and their close ones, and ethical standards. It is necessary to develop empathy among medical students and young doctors. Building trusting relationships with patients is an integral part of high-quality health care. Accordingly, the practical skills and abilities of a good doctor should go “side by side” with communication skills.

Taking into account all of the above, the Department of Simulation and Educational Technologies decided to combine these two components of the future doctor’s activity into one discipline for 3rd year students “Effective Communication Skills with the Patient.” In this discipline, students study both components and learn to use communication skills together with practical skills for more effective doctor-patient interaction. Students practice skills using the Standardized Patient technique, taking into account different psychological states and ethical preferences of the patient, learning to manage patients at both communicative and practical levels. This discipline has been conducted since the beginning of the 2023-2024 academic year, and receives good feedback from students. Students believe that communication skills play a huge role in the effectiveness of patient management and treatment.[/vc_column_text]