Dominic Greenyer

A well prepared student takes the initiative to create learning opportunities and propel themselves towards qualification; we find that the better prepared you are, the luckier you become. From the Preface The key to passing clinical finals is not a secret; adequate preparation and the ability to think logically and speak clearly are all hallmarks of a successful candidate. This unique guide gives final year students the knowledge and confidence required to pass their examinations with insiders' tips on particular information and skills required to be a top candidate. It is ideal as both a revision aid in the weeks leading up to the examination, and as an aide-memoire the night before.

The search for a set of skills which can be identified and taught as 'good clinical communication' has been of considerable value in persuading decision makers at medical schools and other bodies that communication matters. These days, very large numbers of medical schools use what are essentially skills-based models, such as the extraordinarily thorough Calgary-Cambridge approach. However, I believe that the emphasis on communication' as simply a set of skills, such as eye contact, open questions and so on, has badly skewed the development of the discipline. The teaching of "communication skills" in fact strikes me as a very small part of what I do, not a very difficult part for the majority of students, and - whisper it - one which is often pretty dull... In "Language and Clinical Communication", John Skelton critically considers the theory behind this complex field. His wide-ranging approach reflects on the recent developments within the medical humanities and reflects on his controversial stance; questioning the relevance of skill-based teaching in the clinical arena in an accessible, easy to read manner. You will find Skelton's light-hearted and open-minded attitude to the topic unquestionably illuminating.