Scenarios

Su Jiachun, who leads the program, said it is conducted using regular interactive scenarios developed in accordance with the theories and practical application of psychological counseling, and at least 39 hospitals across the country have similar initiatives.

"They include major hospitals in provinces such as Guangdong, Shandong and Jiangxi, along with smaller clinics such as community health centers in counties," he said, adding that last year Huashan Hospital founded an association for participating establishments to facilitate the regular exchange of experience and information.

"We believe the association will conduct pioneering work that will establish better ways of providing professional assistance for career-related issues that trouble China's medical workers."

Luo Hong, the hospital's director, said, "I believe the program will eventually raise the overall performance of China's hospitals and give doctors and nurses a stronger sense of satisfaction at work."

Positive communication

The lecture given by Xu focused on skills characteristic of high EQ dialogue, which is particularly important to ensuring respectful and effective communications between doctors, the patients and their families.

"Doctors are usually faced with people in poor physical condition or those who have just received bad news about their health, so positive communication can help reduce the pressures and make everyday work more pleasant," he said.

According to Xu, high EQ communication is characteristically friendly and considerate, while low EQ dialogue suggests a superior standpoint and sounds as though the speaker is giving the recipient a lesson or negating their feelings. Low EQ responses make people less willing to listen and can provoke confrontational attitudes and hostile responses.