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The effect of undergraduate education in communication skills: a randomised controlled clinical trial
Author(s) -
Haak Rainer,
Rosenbohm Jakob,
Koerfer Armin,
Obliers Rainer,
Wicht Michael J.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
european journal of dental education
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.583
H-Index - 41
eISSN - 1600-0579
pISSN - 1396-5883
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0579.2008.00521.x
Subject(s) - medical education , psychology , communication skills , medicine
Purpose: To determine whether students improve their communication skills as a result of supervised patient care and whether a newly implemented communication course could further improve these skills. Method: We conducted a randomised, controlled trial including all participants of the first clinical treatment course ( n = 26) between October 2006 and February 2007. Randomisation was balanced by gender and basic communication skills. The test group practised dentist‐patient communication skills in small groups with role‐plays and videotaped real patient interviews, whereas the control group learned in problem‐based workshops both on a weekly basis. Before and after the interventions (two group pre‐ and post‐design) all students conducted two interviews with simulated patients. The encounters were rated using a 10‐item checklist derived from the Calgary–Cambridge Observation Guide I. Results: Repeated measures ANOVA (α = 0.05) showed a significant difference of the sum scores of the ratings between test and control group ( P = 0.004). The participants educated in communication skills improved significantly (Δ = +14.9; P = 0.004), whereas in the control group no accretion of practical communication competence was observed (Δ = −3.9; P = 0.23). Conclusion: It could be demonstrated that solely interacting with patients during a clinical treatment course did not inevitably improve professional communication skills. In contrast, implementation of a course in communication skills improved the practical competence in dentist‐patient interaction.