Learning Pathways

The National Healthcare Communication Programme is based on the Calgary-Cambridge Guide. The Guide is widely used across the world to teach communication skills to healthcare workers. It provides a clear structure for learning, practice, and reflection and is used across the Programme for all types of healthcare conversation. The Calgary-Cambridge Guide summarises the healthcare conversation as a sequential 5 step process; initiating the conversation, gathering information, physical examination, providing information and planning and closing the conversation. Providing structure and Building the relationship are two steps that continue throughout the conversation. Within each step are key communication skills that can be used to achieve the best outcomes from each healthcare conversation.

The Module 1 workshop (Making connections) focuses on the Building the relationship section of the Calgary-Cambridge Guide and the remaining sections of the Guide (Initiating the conversation, Gathering information, Providing information and planning, Closing the conversation and Providing structure) are covered in Module 2 (Core consultation skills). All remaining programme modules use the Calgary-Cambridge Guide, focusing especially on skills for particular types of conversation.

Staff are encouraged to complete Modules 1 and 2 in advance of taking any of the remaining workshops. Thus Programme modules provide consistent and cumulative learning.

Click this link to download the CCG in PDF format

Click this link to download the Learning Pathway in PDF format