Active Listening and Patient-Centred Communication

Effective communication is not about what the healthcare professional says — it is about what the patient hears, understands, and feels. Active listening is the foundation of patient-centred communication, and it is one of the most commonly tested skills in the UCAT Situational Judgement Test.

This lesson covers what active listening actually means in clinical practice, the core components of patient-centred communication, and how these skills translate into higher SJT scores.

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What Is Active Listening?

Active listening is a deliberate, structured approach to hearing and understanding another person. It goes far beyond simply not interrupting.

The Components of Active Listening