Medical students' concerns about communicating with patients

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Communication Skills Training

Background:

• Limited data exists on medical students' concerns about patient communication.
• Student apprehension before clinical contact and formal training is a key area.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess third-year medical students' concerns regarding communication with patients.
• To evaluate changes in these concerns after initial clinical exposure and communication training.

Main Methods:

• 179 third-year medical students rated 16 communication concerns.
• Ratings were collected before patient contact and communication skills teaching.
• Follow-up ratings were obtained from 139 students at the term's end.

Main Results:

• All identified concerns significantly decreased by the end of the term.
• The relative ranking of concerns remained consistent.
• Highest rated concerns involved patients experiencing pain or strong negative emotions.

Conclusions:

• Communication skills training should prioritize addressing student anxieties about managing distressed patients.
• Curricula should prepare students for challenging patient interactions.