Knowledge, Practices, and Barriers of Communication Skills among a Group of Primary Health-care Physicians in Baghdad 2023

Abstract Background: Communication skills are essential for health professionals to achieve a positive relationship with patients, improving their health and quality of life. Communication is the foundation for obtaining medical history and conveying a diagnosis and treatment plan. Objectives: To assess the knowledge, practice of communication skills among primary care physicians, to find out any barriers related to the communication skills, and the association between the studied variables with knowledge and practice of communication skills. Methodology: A cross-sectional study with analytic component conducted in 40 Primary Health Care Centers in Baghdad, with data collection during a period of 4 months from March 1, 2023 to June 30, 2023. Data had been collected in a questionnaire by direct interview with the participants done by the researcher and including three parts: (participants’ sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge, practice toward communication skills, and the barriers to successful communication). Results: The total number of the participants was 126. The level of knowledge of the participants about physician-patient communication skills was fair in 74 (58.7%) of them, poor in 35 (27.8%). The highest prevalence of poor level of knowledge was seen in participants with specialties other than family medicine and in those with more than 20 years of experience. Level of practice of the participants toward physician-patient communication skills was good in 63 (50%) of them and 63 (50%) had moderate level of practice. The highest prevalence of moderate level of practice was seen in elderly age participants. The most common barrier as mentioned by the participants was time limitation. Conclusion: The majority of primary health-care physicians in this study have fair levels of knowledge, with moderate to good level of practice about communication skills. Family physicians and those who had experience between 10 and 19 years had better knowledge about communication skills. Time limitations are perceived as the biggest hindrance to communication followed by the presentation with multiple complains.