Essay About Importance of Soft Skills for Medical Experts
In the complex and multifarious professional field of medicine, a successful career is attributed to a physician’s ability to communicate, be receptive to criticism and pay meticulous attention to detail. Soft skills are a salient aspect in impacting a patient’s experience, as they heighten self-awareness which better equips a doctor to handle challenging situations. This essay aims to clarify just how important the acquisition of soft skills is for medical professionals.
The denotation of soft skills, according to the Oxford English Dictionary is, “Personal attributes that enable someone to interact efficiently and harmoniously with other people.” They are intangible abilities that we habitualise.
In our contemporary world, academic excellence is merely a required standard that no longer distinguishes you, in this case, from other medical professionals. Often, it is our human attributes that elevate our desirability. For instance, two doctors may have a similar knowledge domain; however, it is their emotional quotient that gives ascendancy when prospective patients are selecting their caregiver. A physician is required to be self-assured, yet still possess the humility to acknowledge their shortcomings.
Soft skills are paramount in the medical field as patients typically face adversity for the duration of their hospitalisation. There is an unavowed expectation for healthcare providers to be understanding, to listen attentively, and to explain a diagnosis or treatment with patience and consideration. A doctor who is abrupt and arrogant will negatively affect a patient’s overall experience and satisfaction. Research conducted has proven that a physician’s ability to empathise significantly improves a patient’s recovery. Further studies concluded that students should have a conceptualisation of soft skills before they graduate. According to the World Psychiatric Association, soft skill training ought to form part of a medical course’s core curriculum. David Chan, an M.D. from the University of California, Los Angeles, encourages students to develop their interpersonal skills. Particularly, speaking candidly, showing compassion and having a strong work ethic. Dr. Chan believes that it is incumbent upon a doctor to show humility and respect when conversing with a staff member below their rankings. Which, consequently, demonstrates an admirable amount of respect paid by the doctor.
As with most skills, the upside is that you can acquire them at any time. Provided you put in the work. If you are unsure if you possess the aforementioned qualities, there are numerous manners in which you can inveterate them. Perhaps by educating yourself on the subject, or through psychoanalysis whereby you are assisted by a professional. Lastly, as straightforward as it may seem, taking care of yourself and admitting to needing help also enhances your personal acumen, as it heightens your self-awareness.
Without a shadow of a doubt, I concur with the opinion of medical experts. Soft skills are one of the most important qualities a medical professional can possess. In addition, regardless of how cognizant you are, there are invariably more skills to accumulate. Hence, healthcare providers need to have an inclination to develop the aforementioned abilities as their field is continuously evolving.
