Patient Communication & History Taking

Proof required

Submit a one-page summary of the communication framework you chose (naming all key components), your volunteer encounter notes (anonymised), and written feedback from your observer confirming they observed the practice encounter.

What gets checked

• Framework is named and all components are documented — not just the name but each stage of the model.
• Volunteer encounter notes reflect application of the framework — not a general clinical history.
• Observer feedback is from a clinical supervisor or communication skills tutor — not a peer student.

Common mistakes

• Framework named without documenting its components — the summary must show understanding of the model.
• Practice encounter conducted without an observer — feedback on communication skills requires a qualified observer.
• Observer is a peer student without clinical or communication skills training experience.

Resources

What a verifier looks for

• Ask the student to describe the first two stages of their chosen framework without looking at their summary.
• Check that the observer is a qualified clinical supervisor or communication skills tutor.
• Ask what communication skill they found hardest to apply in the practice encounter.

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Proof required

Submit your communication logbook with 5 anonymised entries, each countersigned by the supervising registered professional. Each entry must show the communication type, framework applied, challenges noted, and supervisor assessment.

What gets checked

• All 5 entries are countersigned by a registered clinical professional — not a peer student.
• Communication type varies across entries — 5 standard history-taking encounters with no variation does not satisfy this milestone.
• Challenges documented are specific — 'communication was difficult' is not a challenge; 'patient became distressed when asked about family history and required the session to be paused' is.

Common mistakes

• All 5 encounters of the same type — the logbook must show communication skill variety.
• Supervisor assessment missing from one or more entries.
• Patient identifiers not fully removed.

Resources

What a verifier looks for

• Ask the student to describe the most challenging communication encounter and what they did.
• Check that at least 2 different communication types are represented across the 5 entries.
• Verify complete anonymisation across all logbook entries.

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Proof required

Submit a summary of the recorded assessment (what type, what scenario), the supervisor's written feedback from the review session, your self-assessment (1 page), and a comparison identifying where your self-assessment agreed or disagreed with the supervisor's feedback and why.

What gets checked

• Assessment was recorded — written scenarios or roleplay without recording does not qualify for this milestone.
• Supervisor review involves watching the recording — not reading a transcript or relying on your verbal account.
• Comparison section is substantive — where self-assessment and supervisor feedback disagreed, the student must explain why the disagreement existed and which view they now believe is more accurate.

Common mistakes

• No recording — the reviewed recording is the mechanism that makes feedback accurate; without it, supervisor feedback is based only on recall.
• Self-assessment that agrees with supervisor feedback on everything without genuine reflection — if there were no disagreements, explain why not.
• Supervisor who reviewed a transcript rather than the recording — transcript review misses non-verbal communication.

Resources

What a verifier looks for

• Confirm the supervisor reviewed the recording, not a transcript.
• Ask the student to identify one specific communication skill they need to improve based on the review.
• Check that the comparison section is genuine — if no disagreements are noted, ask why.

You'll sign in first, then come straight back here.