Communication skills of specialist doctors: Assessment with SKAF scale a new tool

Objective: to evaluate the standards and uses of communication skills of specialist doctors during the doctor-patient interactions among a sample of specialists belonging to various specialities and based at different hospitals of lahore. methodology: one hundred specialists were asked to participate in the prospective, questionnaire based survey in lahore. these volunteers were asked to fill a form keeping in view their current practices. the scores thus achieved were measured using a proposed skaf score. the results were graded into four parts depending upon the score achieved by the subjects. results: twelve people never returned the survey instrument. of those who did majority scored as good or excellent. females showed a better score than males. those who had previously been instructed formally did better on the skaf scale. conclusions: the need of formal hands on training workshops on communication skills in both under graduate as well as post graduate trainees cannot be reiterated