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Problem Addressed: In addition to clinical instruction, residents need "people" skills that will enable them to deal with all sorts of patients in difficult clinical situations. We planned a series of 12 seminars to teach these skills to first-year residents. OBJECTIVES OF PROGRAM: To ask relevant questions typical of the patient-centred approach; with empathy and respect, to encourage patients to express their emotions; to become more aware of one's own emotions and reactions in one's work as a physician; to negotiate with patients, taking into account both the patient's agenda and one's own., Main Components of Program: Clinical problems drawn from a list of situations likely to involve difficult contact with patients were used to achieve program objectives. Various teaching methods (discussion, brief presentation, practical demonstration, role play) were used during the four stages of skills development: information, demonstration, practice, and feedback. Various tools were used to test the program., Conclusion: Proper planning requires ongoing exploration of objectives, content, teaching methods, and evaluation. This discussion of the teaching principles applied in planning our seminars might inspire others to develop similar programs.

This article describes a study done on patients with maxillofacial traumas at the Hôpital Christ-Roi in Quebec City. The patients were selected from those treated during the first three years after the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department was set up. The hospital has 200 beds. In this study, the different epidemiological data and traumatic type are examined. Patient treatment is also discussed. The data analysis is supported by existing literature on the subject.