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Video Library of Clinical Communication Skills

In this section you will find videos designed to help you learn and teach communication skills. New topics will be added throughout the year.

This section contains video scenarios of patient-doctor communication that demonstrate the use of basic principles and advanced communication strategies exemplified in a number of situations oncologists commonly encounter: telling a patient he or she has cancer, or that it has recurred, that a medical error has been made, that it's time to transition to supportive care...and more.

Basic Principles: Learn strategies that will help you with any clinical encounter.

Managing Difficult Communication: This section contains video scenarios of patient-doctor interactions that demonstrate the use of basic principles and advanced communication strategies exemplified in a number of situations oncologists commonly encounter: telling a patient he or she has cancer, or that it has recurred, that a medical error has been made, that it's time to transition to supportive care...and more.

Next installment: "Communicating with Colleagues: Useful strategies for the workplace"

How to Use These Resources 

The videos and other tools on this Web site may be freely used for teaching and learning communication skills. Directions for obtaining free Continuing Medical Education credit are listed in the Obtaining Continuing Education Credit section. Risk Management Education credit is only available for M. D. Anderson Employees.

Some videos such as Basic Communication Skills are more instructional in nature and meant to introduce viewers to basic concepts in communication skills. Other videos such as those in "Managing Difficult Communication" are suitable not only for learning concepts and techniques but also for group discussion or use as "stimulus tapes" to promote reflective learning (see "On Being An Oncologist"). Anyone wishing a copy of the videos may download or subscribe to the videos at M. D. Anderson on iTunes U. [link will open in iTunes; you must have iTunes software (a free download from Apple) installed to launch this link. Pages will open in a new browser window. M. D. Anderson does not endorse external sites.]

On Being An Oncologist was created as a reflective exercise so that clinicians caring for cancer patients could become familiar with and discuss some of the stresses and demands of oncology practice, since we believe that this topic is not sufficiently vetted in fellowship programs and oncology educational programs. More specific suggestions on how to use the video are covered in the Introduction which is found on page 1 of the workbook for On Being An Oncologist which is on-line. This program may be viewed for continuing education or through the Teaching and Learning links.

Finally a comprehensive bibliography covering the materials discussed on this Web site will soon be available for viewing and printing.

M. D. Anderson Video Player Information 

Note: The streaming video requires a high-speed internet connection (DSL, cable or LAN). If your connection is by dial-up modem, internet viewing will not be satisfactory. If the video pauses, it will start up again shortly. This is usually caused by a slow internet connection. Adobe Flash Player version 10.0 or above is required to be installed.

Video Player Buttons & Shortcut keys

Play button [p] Pause button [p]  Play/Pause button [p]: Toggle between play and pause video

Audio on [m] Audio Mute [m]  Audio on/Mute [m]: Toggle between audio on and off

Transcripts [t]  Transcripts [t]: Open the transcript of the video

Closed Captioning on [c] Closed Captioning off [c]  Closed Captions on/off [c]: Toggle between captions on and off  

Information [i]  Information [i]: Toggle between video summary and shortcut keys

Email Video Link [s]  Email Video Link [s]: Send an e-mail link of the current video

Copy Video Link [x]  Copy Video Link [x] Copy link of the video to your clipboard

CME Credit Available

Certain material on this Web site is available for Continuing Medical Education (AMA PRA Category 1 CreditTM in medical ethics and/or professional responsibility) through The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. To obtain credit you must use the “Obtaining Continuing Education Credit” link on the left. You also have the option of watching the video from this page without applying for credit.

RME Credit Available

Certain material on this Web site is available for Risk Management Education Credit for M. D. Anderson Employees only. To obtain credit you must use the RME Credit link from the “Obtaining Continuing Education Credit” link on the left.

Transcripts and Captions

All videos on this web site have closed captioning (text appears under video) Closed Captions and transcripts Show Transcripts that can be accessed by clicking on their respective icons. You may print the transcript by copying it into a Word document.

I*CARE on iTunes U

Anyone wishing a copy of the videos may download or subscribe to the videos at
M. D. Anderson on iTunes U.

Note: You must have iTunes software (a free download from Apple) installed to launch this link. (Page will open in a new browser window. M. D. Anderson does not endorse external sites.)


© 2009 The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center