Enhancing communication and counselling skills of medical undergraduates; A pre and post intervention study
Journal Title: National Journal of Research in Community Medicine - Year 2018, Vol 7, Issue 3
Abstract
Introduction: Effective communication skills are a core competency for physicians. This study with a pre-post-design was carried out keeping in mind the need to introduce communication & counselling skills training using interactive methods, and its practical application through student- family subject encounters in community setting. Objective: To evaluate the effect of teaching communication skills to final year Medical students. Methodology: The study was carried out on 79 final year medical students posted for two week rotatory posting in Community medicine. We used a before-and-after design to assess the students' performance in communication skills before and after an intervention, where the short training course on communication skills represented the intervention. The participating students were trained in Communication skills by didactic lectures according to Harvard Medical School (HMS) communication skills tool, Role plays and video screenings & improvement in communication & counselling skills was assessed by Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) and by observing their interaction with family subjects in allotted families in the community. Results & Analysis: Significant improvement in students’ communication skills was observed in OSCE (p < 0.001). However the improvement in Family setting was not found to be statistically significant (p > 0.05) indicating the need for early introduction to formal teaching in communication skills, repeated reinforcement and subsequent assessment to build the competence level communication skills among medical students. Conclusions: Teaching communication and counselling skills to medical undergraduates by way of structured sessions will help them imbibe these skills for life.
Authors and Affiliations
Virk Amrit, Solanki Gahlot Neeti, Panigrahi Mahima
Keywords
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- EP ID EP525756
- DOI 10.26727/NJRCM.2018.7.3.163-167
- Views 97
- Downloads 0
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