The SEGUE Framework for teaching and assessing communication skills

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Communication Skills Training
• Health Professions Education

Background:

• The SEGUE Framework is a research-based checklist for medical communication tasks.
• It is the most widely used communication skills teaching and assessment structure in North American medical schools.
• Student and faculty response to the SEGUE Framework as a teaching tool has been positive.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the uses and characteristics of the SEGUE Framework.
• To evaluate its validity and reliability in medical education and practice.
• To assess its acceptability and applicability across various contexts.

Main Methods:

• Survey of US and Canadian medical schools on framework usage.
• Analysis of clinical skills assessments using standardized patients.
• Examination of patient-physician visits in an actual practice setting.
• Assessment of interrater and intrarater reliability with different recording methods.

Main Results:

• The SEGUE Framework is the most prevalent communication skills teaching and assessment tool in North America.
• Data support its concurrent and construct validity through standardized patient assessments.
• Validity is reinforced in real practice settings, with high interrater and strong intrarater reliability.
• The framework demonstrates high acceptability and applicability across diverse contexts.

Conclusions:

• The SEGUE Framework is a reliable, valid, and acceptable tool for medical communication skills teaching and assessment.
• Its application is demonstrated in educational and actual practice settings.
• Further research is needed to establish its predictive validity.