Medical knowledge vs soft skills in healthcare consultations: Which is more important for healthcare professionals?

This research project aims to explore the relative importance of medical knowledge and soft skills in healthcare consultations, providing valuable insights into how these elements contribute to effective patient care. The study will investigate the balance between technical expertise and interpersonal abilities, examining their impact on patient outcomes, satisfaction, and overall healthcare experience. Background: Medical knowledge is essential for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment, forming the foundation of clinical practice. However, soft skills such as communication, empathy, and emotional intelligence are equally crucial in building strong patient-provider relationships. These skills help healthcare professionals understand patient concerns, provide reassurance, and ensure that patients feel heard and respected. The interplay between these two aspects is vital for delivering holistic and patient-centred care. Previous research has primarily relied on methodologies that use patient recall, qualitative, observational, or clinician medical notes to inform findings. While these are appropriate, they are subject to a range of methodological limitations. This project will use Australia's first and only Digital Library to avoid previous research limitations and produce a valuable publication that will contribute to furthering primary care knowledge. The Digital Library, a data repository that houses real-world video-recorded healthcare consultations, will be used for this research. The Digital Library is held at Monash University and is part of the National Centre for Healthy Ageing. The student will use this already collected data to explore the utilization of allied health professionals in general practice consultations. Objectives: 1. To assess how often soft skills and medical knowledge is used by health professionals. 2. To understand and evaluate the use of these skills in relation to patient satisfaction. 3. To explore and identify the optimal balance between medical knowledge and soft skills in various healthcare settings. 4. To provide recommendations for training programs that integrate both technical and interpersonal skills. Methodology: The research will employ a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative data from patient surveys and clinical outcomes with qualitative data from real world recorded healthcare consultations. This comprehensive approach will allow for a nuanced understanding of the relative importance of medical knowledge and soft skills. Expected Outcomes: A publication which will contribute to the development of more effective and compassionate healthcare professionals, ultimately improving patient care and satisfaction. Supervision and Support: The student will be guided by Dr Kimberley Norman, providing mentorship and access to a wealth of resources and expertise. This project offers a unique opportunity to contribute to a critical area of healthcare research, with the potential to make a significant impact on clinical practice and patient outcomes.