Undergraduate Medical students ‘attitudes towards learning communication skills

Authors

  • F. Jahan Associate Professor ,Chair Family Medicine Department, Oman Medical College, Oman
  • M. Norrish Academic Coordinator, Academic Partnerships Unit, Coventry University, UK
  • N. Said Medical Student, Oman Medical College, Oman
  • Z. Abbas Medical Student, Oman Medical College, Oman

Keywords:

Communication skills, undergraduate medical students, Oman

Abstract

Communication is an essential skill for establishing physician-patient relationships and for effective functioning among health care professionals. This skill can be learnt effectively during the under graduate medical students’ training program and help students to practice in patient care efficiently. A cross-sectional study was carried out to assess the attitudes of medical students toward learning communication skills. All students in their first preclinical year and students in their final clinical year were asked to participate.  Data was collected using the previously validated communication skills attitude scale (CSAS). The overall response rate was 79%. The broadly neutral attitude displayed by preclinical students was replaced in the final year clinical students by a significant increase in positive attitudes towards learning communication and a significant reduction in negative attitudes toward learning communication skills. Final year medical students have a more positive attitude towards learning communication skills. It is likely that this change in attitude is mediated by an increase in awareness of the utility of learning good communication skills through their regular daily clinical exposure to patients.

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Published

2014-11-25

How to Cite

Jahan, F. ., Norrish, M. ., Said, N. ., & Abbas, Z. . (2014). Undergraduate Medical students ‘attitudes towards learning communication skills. Scientific Journal of Medical Science, 3(11), 371-377. Retrieved from http://sjournals.com/index.php/sjms/article/view/1280

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Section

Original Article