Clear and concise skilful communication is crucial to healthcare. Frontline nurses have frequent direct contact with patients every day, thus, effective communication skills improve transparency between practitioners and patients, and pave the way for accurate diagnoses and treatment decisions. The International Hybrid-Mode Conference on Healthcare Communication, which was jointly organised by the Department of English (EN) at City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) and the School of Nursing at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), was held on 28 December 2023 at Jockey Club Auditorium of PolyU.

The conference received support from the Hospital Authority (Nursing) and the Professional Services Advancement Support Scheme of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (PASS). It aimed to create safer and more compassionate healthcare practices in nursing and communication, by sharing the latest research and experiences on improving healthcare communication in various settings and contexts. The event featured 10 presentations by experts from Australia, Sweden, Singapore, USA, and Hong Kong, covering topics such as stigma, cultural sensitivity, patient safety, interprofessional collaboration, simulation-based education and translational research. It also included a panel discussion on the practitioners’ experiences. Professor Jack PUN, Assistant Professor of EN, shed light in his talk titled “Better Nursing Handover Communication: Translational Research and Training in Hong Kong Hospitals”.

The conference concluded with a summary and a call for action by the organisers, who highlighted the importance of integrating patient safety into healthcare communication research, training and clinical practice. They also called for increased collaboration and innovation among researchers, educators and practitioners in the field of healthcare communication.

The conference was a successful event that attracted more than 300 participants online and on-site from different disciplines and regions. It was well-received by the participants, who expressed their appreciation and feedback on the quality and relevance of the presentations and discussions. The conference also provided a valuable opportunity for networking and exchange of ideas among the participants, who came from different backgrounds and perspectives.