Ashraf Mohamed Shawat, MD, MSc¹, Esmat Mansour Ibrahim El Sharkably, MD, MPH, PhD², Reginald F. Gipson, MD, MPH³, and Marwa Osama Kamel³. (1) Anesthesiology, Cairo University, Sanadely St., Giza, Egypt, +20106030095, aelshawat@jsiegypt.com, (2) Undersecretary for Primary Health, Ministry of Health and Population, Egypt, 21 El-Sabaa Sakayat St., Kasr el Eini, Cairo, Egypt, (3) Healthy Mother/Healthy Child, John Snow, Inc., 21 Misr Helwan Agricultural Rd., 10th floor, Maadi, Cairo, Egypt

Health professionals have the knowledge to provide effective services to patients but often lack skills in effective patient communication. The Healthy Mother/ Healthy Child project in Egypt identified key communication problems between health care workers and patients through focus groups and interviews. This research suggests that patients often feel that they are treated without respect and don't receive key information needed such as when to seek additional care. This information is crucial in developing countries like Egypt where maternal deaths due to lack of communication is nearly 30%.

In response to this research, the MOHP with technical assistance by John Snow, Inc. developed a training for physicians and nurses discussing effective communciation strategies with patients. In 2003, 161 physicians and 231 nurses received the training in Upper Egypt.

This presentation will provide a summary of the focus group research findings, a review of the training objectives and curriculum, and a discussion on how the training has changed the delivery of services to mothers in Upper Egypt.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify two communication problems in Egypt from the patient perspective.
• Describe two ways that training addressed the key communication problems.

Keywords: Communication, Counseling

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.