Specific peculiarities of communicative competence in future physicians

Abstract

This study highlights the importance of developing communicative competence in future physicians as a critical component of high-quality healthcare. Communicative competence refers to the ability to communicate effectively with others both verbally and non-verbally. For a physician, this competence is essential, as treatment success and the level of trust in a health care facility directly depend on the quality of communication with patients. A lack of communicative preparedness often leads to various difficulties in both medical and preventive practices. When criticizing healthcare professionals, patients tend to focus less on their professional skills and more on inadequate communication. Communicative competence involves a range of skills: establishing contact, listening to a patient, understanding their emotions, and conducting meaningful dialogue. For a physician, the ability to manage their own emotions and reactions and to maintain emotional stability is equally important. Therefore, building communicative competence creates the foundation for effective collaboration between a doctor and a patient. For medical students, acquiring communicative competence includes mastering the Ukrainian language to a level that allows its use for professional needs, building business relationships, and enabling future professional self-education and development. The article explores the significance, structure, and conceptual basis of communicative competence, as well as its role in the diagnosis and treatment. It analyses the following structural components: linguistic, strategic, discursive, pragmatic, and socio-cultural competence. The article also emphasizes the relevance of an integrated approach in shaping communicative competence in future specialists.