Curriculum standards

Ready to perform without supervision

Expected behaviours of a trainee who can routinely perform this activity without needing supervision

The trainee will:

• use appropriate communication strategies for communication, such as emails, face-to-face, or phone calls
• provide information to patients in plain language, avoiding jargon, acronyms, and complex medical terms
• elicit patients’ views, concerns, and preferences, promoting rapport
• encourage questions, and answer them thoroughly
• ask patients to share their thoughts or explain their management plan in their own words, to verify understanding
• convey information considerately and sensitively to patients, seeking clarification if unsure of how best to proceed
• treat children and young people respectfully, and listen to their views
• recognise the role of families, whānau, and carers in decision making, and encourage patients to involve them when appropriate
• share confronting information, including prognoses, in a compassionate, clear way and in a supportive environment
• ensure communication is documented in a clear and accurate way, and in an appropriate format

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 patients in discussions, avoiding the use of jargon
• check patients’ understanding of information
• collaborate with patient liaison officers as required
• adapt communication style in response to patients’ age, developmental level, and cognitive, physical, cultural, socioeconomic, and situational factors

Ready to perform without supervision

Expected behaviours of a trainee who can routinely perform this activity without needing supervision

The trainee will:

• discuss with patients the potential benefits and harms of their management options
• provide information to patients in a way they can understand before asking for their consent
• consider young people’s capacity for decision making and consent
• recognise and take precautions where patients may be vulnerable, such as issues of child protection, self-harm, or elder abuse
• participate in processes to manage patient complaints

Requires some supervision

Possible behaviours of a trainee who needs some supervision to perform this activity

The trainee may:

• inform patients of the material risks associated with proposed management plans
• treat information about patients as confidential

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 explain the purpose, nature, and extent of the investigation and treatment options
• produce informed consent or other valid authority before involving patients in teaching
• role model good communication strategies and techniques for junior colleagues and learners

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 patients, and to patients’ knowledge regarding their condition

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 patients that is based on guidelines issued by the National Health and Medical Research Council and/or Health Research Council of Aotearoa New Zealand
• provide information to patients in a way they can understand before asking for their consent to participate in research

Requires some supervision

Possible behaviours of a trainee who needs some supervision to perform this activity

The trainee may:

• demonstrate an understanding of the limitations of the evidence and the challenges of applying research in daily practice
• refer to evidence-based clinical guidelines

Ready to perform without supervision

Expected behaviours of a trainee who can routinely perform this activity without needing supervision

The trainee will:

• effectively communicate with members of cultural groups, including Māori and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, by meeting patients’ specific language, cultural, and communication needs
• use qualified language interpreters or cultural interpreters to help meet patients’ communication needs
• provide plain language and culturally appropriate written materials to patients 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
• allow enough time for communication across linguistic and cultural barriers

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 patients to be well informed about their health, and to use this information wisely when they make decisions
• encourage and support patients and, when relevant, their families, whānau or carers, in caring for themselves and managing their health
• demonstrate respectful professional relationships with patients
• prioritise honesty, patients’ welfare, and community benefit above self-interest
• develop a high standard of personal conduct, consistent with professional and community expectations
• support patients’ rights to seek second opinions

Requires some supervision

Possible behaviours of a trainee who needs some supervision to perform this activity

The trainee may:

• respect the preferences of patients
• communicate appropriately, consistent with the context, and respect patients’ needs and preferences
• maximise patient autonomy, and support their decision making
• avoid sexual, intimate, and financial relationships with patients
• demonstrate a caring attitude towards patients
• respect patients, including protecting their rights to privacy and confidentiality
• behave equitably towards all, irrespective of gender, age, culture, socioeconomic status, sexual preferences, beliefs, illness-related behaviours, or the illness itself
• use social media ethically and according to legal obligations to protect patients’ confidentiality and privacy

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 involved in patients’ care
• discuss medical assessments, treatment plans, and investigations with primary and other care teams, to align them with the appropriate resources
• facilitate an environment where all team members feel they can contribute and their opinion is valued

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 health care team members
• keep health care team members focused on patient outcomes

Ready to perform without supervision

Expected behaviours of a trainee who can routinely perform this activity without needing supervision

The trainee will:

• collaborate with other services, such as community health centres and consumer organisations, to help patients navigate the healthcare system

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