Crafting Communications Soft Skills Course for Better Service Delivery by the Health Workforce
Despite the critical role that soft skills such as emotional intelligence, communication and cultural competency play in healthcare, significant gaps persist in the training and application of these skills among healthcare professionals in their work setting. Research indicates that while the theoretical importance of soft skills is often recognized, there exists a gap in their integration into healthcare training programs, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
This backdrop formed the basis for a communications soft skills content development workshop held from November 11 to 15, 2024 in Machakos County, Kenya. This was spearheaded by Amref Health Africa’s Institute of Capacity Development (ICD) through the Jibu Digital Learning Team. The workshop brought together communication experts and specialties, educationists, health professionals, and content developers to contribute towards enriched service delivery by the health workforce in their communities.
The two main deliverables were adapting the course curriculum and developing rich content on communications as a soft skill. The deputy digital learning director’s opening remarks set the tone:
“Our objective is not just to develop an interactive and engaging communication skills course but to create a transformative learning experience that will resonate with every learner.”
From this, it was clear that we weren’t just developing a course; we were building the capacity of the health workforce to improve health care delivery. What unfolded over the days was a collaborative journey of adapting the course curriculum and developing learner-centered units. This was through meaningful discussions, diverse perspectives as well as practical examples on communications soft skills in service delivery. The developed course addressed many crucial aspects in strengthening health workforce in their service delivery. These included skills in: communication overview, listening, written communication, problem-solving, and public speaking.
As the workshop drew to a close, it was noted that this was not just about developing the content, it was about creating a learning experience that would build the capacity of healthcare workforce to connect deeply with patients, and address communication challenges with resilience and empathy.
The subject matter experts left inspired, not just with the completed task but with a shared expectation, and commitment. To quote one of them:
“We are happy to be part of this activity, not just to develop the course, but to learn and be part of the solution that addresses some of the challenges faced by the health workforce.”
Watch this space for more updates on the course’s availability and launch!
Writers: Jibu Digital Learning Team