Predicting communication skills with a paper-and-pencil test

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Communication Skills Assessment

Background:

• Assessing communication skills is crucial in medical education.
• Evaluating the predictive validity of knowledge-based assessments for communication performance is essential.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the predictive value of a written knowledge test for communication skills on performance-based assessments.
• To compare the predictive accuracy between different medical schools.

Main Methods:

• Administered a paper-and-pencil knowledge test and a four-station performance test with standardized patients to medical students.
• Compared results from both tests across two medical schools (Maastricht and Leiden).

Main Results:

• The knowledge test showed moderate predictive value (correlation of 0.60) for the performance test.
• Both tests equally differentiated between student classes (60% vs. 64% accuracy).
• A stronger correlation was observed in Maastricht students, potentially due to training format.

Conclusions:

• A written knowledge test has predictive value for communication skills performance.
• This predictive value is less pronounced compared to assessments of clinical procedural skills.
• Training format may influence the relationship between knowledge and performance in communication skills.