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 and modalities for communication, such as emails, face-to-face, letters, phone calls, and telemedicine
• speak directly to the patient rather than ‘over them’ to their family or carers
• use active listening techniques
• elicit patients’ views, concerns, and preferences, promoting rapport
• provide information to patients in plain language, avoiding jargon, acronyms, and complex medical terms
• encourage questions, and answer them thoroughly
• provide an environment that is private
• ask for patients’ consent before speaking in front of family members, carers, or friends
• convey information such as diagnoses, prognoses, and management plans considerately and sensitively to patients and their families, seeking clarification if unsure of how best to proceed
• practice gender inclusive care and promote equality

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
• adapt communication style in response to patients’ age, developmental level, and cognitive, physical, cultural, socioeconomic, and situational factors
• collaborate with patient liaison officers as required

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 their condition and the available management options, including potential benefits and harms
• provide information to patients in a way they can understand before asking for their 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 patients’ complaints
• assess capacity

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 assessments to be conducted
• obtain informed consent or other valid authority before involving patients in teaching
• obtain informed consent before involving patients in journal publications or medical education presentations

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 New Zealand
• provide information to patients in a way they can understand before asking for their consent to participate in research
• obtain an informed consent or other valid authority before involving patients 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 clinical guidelines
• demonstrate awareness of the limitations of the evidence and the challenges of applying research in daily practice

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
• effectively communicate with members of other cultural groups by meeting patients’ specific language, cultural, and communication needs
• use qualified language 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 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/or financial relationships with patients
• demonstrate a caring attitude towards patients
• respect patients, including understanding and protecting their rights to privacy and confidentiality
• behave equitably towards all, irrespective of gender, age, culture, socioeconomic status, sexual preferences, beliefs, contribution to society, 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, and with patients, families, and carers
• discuss medical assessments, treatment plans, and investigations with patients and primary care teams, working collaboratively with all
• discuss patients’ care needs with healthcare team members to align them with 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 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