Core subject 1 Communication skills

We continue our weekly look at the GOC core competencies by expanding our argument over the significance of good communication skills for accurate history and symptoms taking

For the purposes of guiding the pre-registration optometrists through their year in practice, the GOC suggests a list of competencies within each core subject which need to be achieved as the year progresses (the first quarter requirements were outlined in this series - optician July 1, 2005). In the last of these features looking at Core Subject 1 for optometrists, we look at some issues regarding communication skills in contact lens practice. It is important to remember that the competencies overlap somewhat. For example, core subject 7 for optometrists deals with contact lenses, where category 7.4 refers to 'the ability to advise on contact lens materials and care regimes'.