Bombeke, Katrien

De Winter, Benedicte

Debaene, Luc

Schol, Sandrina

Van Hal, Guido F.

van Roosbroeck, Sofie

Van Royen, Paul

Abstract: Objective Literature indicates a decline in patient-centredness in medical students, especially during clinical clerkships. We examined the impact of preclinical communication skills training (CST) on students development of patient-centred attitudes and attitudes toward CST during clerkships. Methods We prospectively compared two cohorts before and after clerkships: one cohort (n = 48) had not received CST, whereas the other (n = 37) had received a five-year CST. We assessed the impact using five validated questionnaires. Results Communication trained students slightly but significantly declined in patient-centred attitudes (3/4 scales) and attitudes toward CST during clerkships, whereas the scores of the untrained students remained stable (5/5 scales). Both cohorts did not differ in attitudes before clerkships. In the trained cohort, males mostly showed a sharper decline than females. In the total group (n = 85), females demonstrated higher attitude scores toward CST, and in 1/4 scales measuring patient-centred attitudes. Conclusion This cohort study suggests that CST might make students more vulnerable to decline in attitude scores during clerkships. Practice implications These remarkable findings, contrary to what educators would expect to result from their efforts, challenge medical education to address the new questions that are raised about the validity of the questionnaires, the impact of CST and the learning processes involved in the development of patient-centredness

Institutional Repository Universiteit Antwerpen

Medical students trained in communication skills show a decline in patient-centred attitudes : an observational study comparing two cohorts during clinical clerkships

Medical students trained in communication skills show a decline in patient-centred attitudes : an observational study comparing two cohorts during clinical clerkships

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Institutional Repository Universiteit Antwerpen