Communication skills teaching, learning and assessment

This paper outlines an introductory course in teaching communication skills to medical students in a preclinical context. The aims of the course, its content and teaching methods are described. Novel features include the active participation of selected patients in teaching and assessment, and the use of a form of role-play named 'listening triads'. The main focus of the paper is assessment, and results are recorded, relating to a class of 114 second-year students during the academic session 1983-84. Assessment of the students' learning was measured by Modified Essay Question (MEQ); students' problems face-to-face with patients were identified by patients, students, and by staff members observing interactions. Problems of fitting these educational assessments into a traditional academic 'certifying' type of assessment remain unresolved at present. This course was found to be acceptable by the preclinical students, and their lack of clinical knowledge did not appear to interfere with their learning. They were enthusiastic about the supervised contact with patients, which appeared to contribute significantly to the way the course was received.