Teaching interviewing skills: the effect of instructors' academic department

This study examines student evaluations of an interviewing and communications skills course taught in small groups by members of psychiatry and family medicine departments. Student course evaluations for two academic years were analyzed by means of t-tests and multiple regression analyses to explore if the group leader's academic department affected the student's learning experience. Students taught by family medicine instructors rated significantly higher three aspects of the course: the usefulness of the role playing session, the credibility and realism of the videotaping session, and the recommendation that the course be continued. This study found the family medicine instructors to be valued teachers of interviewing and communication skills.