ABVIMS, Dr. RML Hospital Begins Soft Skills Training To Improve Doctor–Patient Relations

Breakdowns in communication, trust, and the ever-increasing expectations surrounding treatment and care can often lead to conflict between healthcare providers and patients.

This is increasingly being reflected in the rising number of incidents of violence against doctors by patients or their attendants. The emotional and time-related toll of such situations can be considerable for all those involved.

To help healthcare professionals understand how and why conflicts may arise between themselves and patients or their families, and to equip them with the skills to manage and resolve such situations effectively, the centrally run Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Medical Sciences (ABVIMS) and Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, have launched a programme for medical residents and interns engaged in patient care across various departments.

The comprehensive soft skills training programme seeks to strengthen communication and empathy among healthcare providers, enabling them to handle sensitive interactions and convey difficult news with compassion and professionalism.

The initiative, conceptualised under the guidance of Dr. Ashok Kumar, Director, and Dr. Mina Chandra, Head of the Department of Psychiatry, is being conducted by a multidisciplinary team, said a statement from the Hospital.

The programme builds on earlier phases — Soft Skills Training Programme V1.0 (Training of Trainers), V2.0 (Training of Faculty), and V3.0 (Training of Nursing Professionals, in collaboration with the Continuing Nursing Education Cell).

The current phase focuses on key domains including communication skills, conflict management, emotional intelligence, stress management, and breaking bad news.

Conducted through a hybrid model combining awareness sessions and experiential learning, the training incorporates audiovisual aids and role-play exercises. Each two-hour session includes pre- and post-assessment to gauge improvement in participants’ competencies.

According to the institute, the programme has witnessed active participation from 12 departments, training over 325 residents between August and October 2025. The involvement of department heads, nodal officers, external trainers, and independent observers has ensured the fidelity of implementation and promoted consistent skill development, said the statement.

Buoyed by the positive response, ABVIMS and Dr. RML Hospital plan to extend the initiative to the entire hospital, with monthly booster and intensive training sessions for residents working in the accident and emergency services, added the statement.

“The programme aims to strengthen doctor–patient relationships and enhance overall quality of care by encouraging empathy, effective communication, and emotional balance among healthcare providers,” said a doctor from the hospital. He pointed out that breakdowns in communication, trust and ever-increasing expectations of treatment and care can result in conflict. "The impact on all those involved in terms of time and emotion can be enormous."