Communication skills training: describing a new conceptual model

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Communication Studies
• Linguistics

Background:

• Physician-patient communication research is multidisciplinary, yielding evidence for best practices.
• Communication skills training (CST) is foundational in medical education.
• Existing CST lacks clarity on specific skills taught and assessed.

Purpose of the Study:

• Introduce the Comskil Model to address critiques in CST literature.
• Explicitly define consultation components using Goals, Plans, and Actions theories and sociolinguistic theory.
• Improve the alignment between taught and assessed communication skills.

Main Methods:

• Developed the Comskil Model based on established theories.
• Adapted sequenced guidelines for teaching communication challenges.
• Proposed an overarching goal and predetermined strategies for consultation communication.
• Defined process tasks and cognitive appraisals for teaching.

Main Results:

• The Comskil Model explicitly defines consultation components and communication skills.
• Strategies within the model embed and clarify specific communication skills.
• Assessment practices, including coding and feedback, ensure skill concordance.

Conclusions:

• The Comskil Model enhances CST by clearly defining skills and their assessment.
• This model provides a structured approach to teaching physician-patient communication.
• Improved clarity in CST can lead to better physician-patient interactions.