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A factor analytic study of clinical competence in undergraduate psychiatry
Author(s) -
McFARLANE A. C.,
GOLDNEY R. D.,
KALUCY R. S.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
medical education
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.776
H-Index - 138
eISSN - 1365-2923
pISSN - 0308-0110
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2923.1989.tb00897.x
Subject(s) - competence (human resources) , psychology , observational study , interpersonal communication , social skills , curriculum , medical education , cognition , clinical psychology , medical school , psychiatry , medicine , social psychology , pedagogy , pathology
Summary. This study used factor analysis to define the components of clinical competence of medical students during their undergraduate psychiatric training. Four factors were defined; factor 1 related to cognitive and psychological problem‐solving; factor 2 tapped the interpersonal and observational skills students showed with patients; factor 3 was characterized by knowledge in the examination setting, and factor 4 related to students' capacity to demonstrate their ability in an interpersonal setting. These are similar to the component skills of clinical competence demonstrated by students in other areas of the medical curriculum. They also correspond to the skills which Walton (1986) has suggested should be focused upon in undergraduate psychiatric education.