GMS Z Med Ausbild 2010;27(4):Doc53

Matthias Hofer: Doc’s Coach –
Practical Skills for Hospitals and Medical Practices

A Guide to Combating the “Chinese Whispers” Effect

Here’s a quote from an online forum for medical students (MEDI-LEARN) that speaks for many: “By the way, I think it’s really terrible that they don’t teach you something like this. It’s done differently on every ward; the nurses say one thing one time and another thing the next, and it seems like nobody really knows for sure.” (This refers to drawing blood from a central venous catheter.) Following the “Chinese whispers” principle, inaccuracies in the performance of procedures are passed along and can gradually lead to errors with serious consequences for patients.

To address this issue, universities around the world are increasingly setting up so-called “skills labs,” where students can learn the practical skills required for everyday medical and nursing practice—often using models—in a standardized format. There are only a few textbooks on this topic available on the market; Matthias Hofer’s *Doc’s Coach* stands out for its outstanding content and pedagogical quality. The list of skills described is comprehensive for basic training, and even skills that are supposedly so simple that a student wouldn’t want to ask anyone about them are explained in detail. (Studies on the economic damage caused by incorrect blood pressure measurements speak for themselves here.) The presentation, featuring a successful combination of photos and text, is clear and large enough to be highly valued by students as a step-by-step guide when practicing on a model. The linking of text and images via small yellow arrows takes a little getting used to but soon proves to be extremely helpful. Hofer does not limit himself to mere procedural descriptions; important additional information—for example, on indications, contraindications, and possible complications—provides valuable links to the necessary background knowledge.

This book can be very helpful not only for the target audiences mentioned in the preface—“medical students and resident physicians in the early years of their training”—but also for others. It is also highly recommended for physicians who want to prevent errors from creeping into their performance of the described skills over the years—errors they might then unintentionally pass on to the next generation. Doc’s Coach is also a great help for refreshing one’s memory when, after many years, one finds oneself once again in a situation where one must perform a lumbar puncture or insert a urinary catheter.

Conclusion

A highly recommended book for all healthcare professionals who don’t want to rely solely on the “Chinese whispers” principle and their memory when learning, refreshing, or teaching skills.

by Anita Schmidt, UK Erlangen