Curriculum standards
Entrustable Professional Activities
LG9: Communication and engagement for population health gain
Communication and engagement for population health gain
Engage with communities and communicate complex health information, including preventive messages for population health gain
This activity requires the ability to:
- select a suitable context and include community representatives, stakeholders, and other team members
- select and use appropriate modalities and communication strategies, including written material and oral presentations
- communicate information at a literacy level appropriate for the target audience, ensuring the information and delivery is culturally appropriate
- communicate information at an intensity and using a medium that is proportionate to the risk
- verify audience understanding of information conveyed
- ensure communications / conversations are documented to support decision making, actions, and medicolegal accountabilities
Professional practice framework domain
Medical expertise
Ready to perform without supervision
Expected behaviours of a trainee who can routinely perform this activity without needing supervision
The trainee will:
- anticipate and be able to correct any misunderstandings communities may have about their health and/or risk factors / exposures
- inform communities of all aspects of public health management, including assessments and investigations, and give them adequate opportunity to question or refuse interventions
- seek to understand the concerns and goals of communities, and plan management in partnership with them
- provide information to communities and the public to enable them to make informed decisions about strategies to protect health
Requires some supervision
Possible behaviours of a trainee who needs some supervision to perform this activity
The trainee may:
- apply knowledge of the scientific basis of health and disease to population health practice
- demonstrate an understanding of the population health issues being discussed
- formulate future directions in partnership with communities
Communication
Ready to perform without supervision
Expected behaviours of a trainee who can routinely perform this activity without needing supervision
The trainee will:
- use appropriate (including culturally appropriate) communication strategies and modalities for communication, such as emails, face-to-face, and phone calls for individuals, small groups, and mass media (such as social media, websites, and radio) for greater reach to communities and populations
- elicit community members’ views, concerns, and preferences, promoting rapport
- provide information to communities in plain language, avoiding jargon, acronyms, and complex medical terms
- encourage questions, and answer them thoroughly
- ask community members to share their thoughts or explain the management plan affecting their community in their own words, to verify understanding
- convey information considerately and sensitively to communities, seeking clarification if unsure of how best to proceed
- treat children and young people respectfully, and listen to their views
- recognise the role of family and whānau, and, when appropriate, encourage their involvement in decisions about management options
- use presentation software and other tools effectively
- ensure team members are confident and competent in their assigned roles
- ensure communications are honest, transparent, and evidence-based regarding uncertainties
Requires some supervision
Possible behaviours of a trainee who needs some supervision to perform this activity
The trainee may:
- select appropriate modes of communication
- engage communities in discussions, avoiding the use of jargon
- check community understanding of information
- collaborate with other health professionals as required
- adapt communication style in response to community characteristics, including age, developmental level, and cognitive, physical, cultural, socioeconomic, and situational factors
Quality and safety
Ready to perform without supervision
Expected behaviours of a trainee who can routinely perform this activity without needing supervision
The trainee will:
- discuss with communities the situations / issues and available management options, including potential benefits and harms
- provide information to communities in a way they can understand before asking for their agreement
- recognise and take precautions where communities may be at particular risk, such as in relation to issues such as child protection, self-harm, or elder abuse
- participate in processes to manage complaints
Requires some supervision
Possible behaviours of a trainee who needs some supervision to perform this activity
The trainee may:
- inform communities of the material risks associated with proposed management plans
- treat information about individuals as confidential
Teaching and learning
Ready to perform without supervision
Expected behaviours of a trainee who can routinely perform this activity without needing supervision
The trainee will:
- discuss the aetiology of diseases and their determinants
- explain the purpose, nature, and extent of any assessments to be conducted
- obtain informed consent or other valid authority before involving community members in teaching
Requires some supervision
Possible behaviours of a trainee who needs some supervision to perform this activity
The trainee may:
- respond appropriately to information sourced by community members and to community knowledge regarding their situations / issues
Research
Ready to perform without supervision
Expected behaviours of a trainee who can routinely perform this activity without needing supervision
The trainee will:
- provide information to communities that is based on guidelines issued by the National Health and Medical Research Council and/or Health Research Council of NZ
- provide information to potential participants in a way they can understand before asking for their consent to participate in research
- obtain informed consent or other valid authority before involving individuals in research
Requires some supervision
Possible behaviours of a trainee who needs some supervision to perform this activity
The trainee may:
- refer to evidence-based guidelines
- demonstrate an understanding of the limitations of the evidence and the challenges of applying research in daily practice
Cultural safety
Ready to perform without supervision
Expected behaviours of a trainee who can routinely perform this activity without needing supervision
The trainee will:
- demonstrate effective and culturally competent communication with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and Māori (tangata whenua)
- effectively communicate with members of other ethnic groups by meeting their specific language, cultural, and communication needs
- use qualified language and/or cultural interpreters to help meet communication needs
- provide plain language and culturally appropriate written materials to communities when possible
Requires some supervision
Possible behaviours of a trainee who needs some supervision to perform this activity
The trainee may:
- identify when to use interpreters
- invest time and effort in overcoming linguistic and cultural barriers
Ethics and professional behaviour
Ready to perform without supervision
Expected behaviours of a trainee who can routinely perform this activity without needing supervision
The trainee will:
- encourage and support communities to be engaged in their health care, and to use information wisely when they make decisions
- encourage and support communities, and, when relevant, their families and whānau, in caring for themselves and managing their health
- demonstrate respectful professional relationships with community members and other professionals
- prioritise honesty and community wellbeing and benefit above self-interest
- develop a high standard of personal conduct, consistent with professional and community expectations
Requires some supervision
Possible behaviours of a trainee who needs some supervision to perform this activity
The trainee may:
- respect the preferences of communities
- communicate appropriately, consistent with the context, and respect community needs and preferences
- maximise autonomy of community members, and support their decision making
- avoid sexual, intimate, and/or financial relationships with clients
- demonstrate a caring attitude towards communities
- respect community members, including protecting their rights to privacy and confidentiality
- behave equitably towards all, irrespective of gender, age, culture, socioeconomic status, sexual identity and preferences, beliefs, contribution to society, illness-related behaviours or the illness itself
- use social media ethically and according to legal obligations to protect confidentiality and privacy
Leadership, management, and teamwork
Ready to perform without supervision
Expected behaviours of a trainee who can routinely perform this activity without needing supervision
The trainee will:
- communicate effectively with team members and stakeholders, in a way that is responsive to their needs
- discuss public health implementation plans with communities and healthcare and other professionals, working collaboratively with all
- discuss community health and care needs with healthcare team members to align them with the appropriate resources
- facilitate an environment in which all team members feel they can contribute and their opinion is valued
- communicate accurately and succinctly, and motivate others on the healthcare team
Requires some supervision
Possible behaviours of a trainee who needs some supervision to perform this activity
The trainee may:
- answer questions from team members
- summarise, clarify, and communicate responsibilities of healthcare team members
- keep healthcare team members focused on community health outcomes
Health policy, systems, and advocacy
Ready to perform without supervision
Expected behaviours of a trainee who can routinely perform this activity without needing supervision
The trainee will:
- consult effectively with stakeholders to inform policy development and implementation
- prepare written policy or guidelines for submission or approval
- communicate policy and advocate effectively, using methods appropriate for the target audience
Requires some supervision
Possible behaviours of a trainee who needs some supervision to perform this activity
The trainee may:
- communicate with and involve other health professionals as appropriate
- prepare draft policy or guidelines of a standard that could be submitted for approval