Communication Skills in the Age of COVID-19

Ann Intern Med. 2020 Jun 2;172(11):759-760. doi: 10.7326/M20-1376. Epub 2020 Apr 2.

Abstract

COVID-19 has placed enormous stress on hospitals and health care providers worldwide. Limitations in hospital capacity may result in difficult decisions in how life-sustaining technologies are allocated among patients. The authors of this essay provide guidance on how to communicate with patients who are seriously ill from COVID-19 infection.

Keywords: Behavior; COVID-19; Communication in health care; Emotions; Fear; Health care providers; Heart; Intensive care units; Quality of life; Resuscitation.

Publication types

  • Editorial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Video-Audio Media

MeSH terms

  • Betacoronavirus
  • COVID-19
  • Communication*
  • Coronavirus Infections / epidemiology*
  • Humans
  • Pandemics
  • Physician-Patient Relations*
  • Pneumonia, Viral / epidemiology*
  • SARS-CoV-2