Training improves inter-collegial communication Birgitte Nørgaard, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kolding Hospital, a part of Lillebaelt Hospital, Odense, Denmark Jette Ammentorp and Poul-Erik Kofoed, Health Services Research Unit, Lillebaelt Hospital, Odense, Denmark Kirsten Ohm Kyvik, Institute of Regional Health Services Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark SUMMARY Background: Good intercollegial communication is a relatively unstudied topic, although it is important for both health profes- sionals and patients, contributing to enhanced well-being, self- awareness and integrity for health professionals, and positively affecting patient outcome and satisfaction. Objective: To investigate whether a communication skills training course would improve intercolle- gial communication in an ortho- paedic department. Methods: The study was de- signed as an intervention study investigating the effectiveness of an in-house training course, evaluated by means of ques- tionnaires. Results: A total of 177 ⁄ 181 (97.8%) participants answered the questionnaire before (T1), 165 ⁄ 169 (97.6%) immediately after (T2) and 150 ⁄ 153 (98%) 6 months after the course (T3). Of six questions about intraprofes- sional communication, one and two questions were evaluated significantly higher at T2 and T3, respectively. Of the six questions about interprofessional communi- cation, the increase was statisti- cally significant for four questions in T2 and for five questions in T3, respectively. Conclusion: A communication skills training course improved health care professionals’ assessment of intercollegial communication, and this was more pronounced in interprofes- sional rather than in intrapro- fessional communication, and was more pronounced 6 months after the training course than immediately after the training course. Practice implications: Communi- cation skills training for health care professionals is recommended, and should also include all health care professions that have patient contact. Good intercollegial communication is important for both health professionals and patients Peer-to- peer Ó Blackwell Publishing Ltd 2012. THE CLINICAL TEACHER 2012; 9: 173–177 173