Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 7, 2026
09:55
Bridging the Technology Divide in the COVID-19 Era: Using Virtual Outreach to Expose Middle and High School Students to Imaging Technology
Published on: September 28, 2022
Enhancing communication skills for pediatric visits through on-line training using video demonstrations
Kathi J Kemper1, Jane M Foy, Larry Wissow
1Departments of Pediatrics and Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA. kkemper@wfubmc.edu
BMC Medical Education
|February 13, 2008
Summary
Online communication skills training for pediatric mental health visits is feasible and desirable. Health professionals reported increased confidence in key skills after completing the course.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Health Communication
- Pediatric Mental Health
Background:
- In-person communication skills training for health professionals faces significant barriers.
- Effective communication is crucial in pediatric visits, especially those involving mental health concerns.
- Previous online curricula informed the development of this novel training module.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the feasibility and desirability of an online communication skills training course.
- To assess the impact of online training on health professionals' confidence in specific communication skills.
- To gather suggestions for future online communication skills training development.
Main Methods:
- Developed a 28-module online course (4.75 CME credit hours) on communication skills for pediatric mental health visits.
- Modules included case vignettes, multiple-choice questions, explanations, and video demonstrations.
- Enrolled 50 clinicians, analyzing outcomes from those who evaluated the course within 75 days.
Main Results:
- 61 clinicians registered; 36 (59%) completed evaluations.
- Over 85% agreed course objectives were met; >90% reported increased confidence in greetings and agenda-setting.
- Over 80% reported enhanced confidence in discussing diagnosis/treatment and managing negative interactions; 97% would recommend the course.
Conclusions:
- Online communication skills training for pediatric mental health is feasible and desirable.
- The training is associated with increased confidence in essential communication skills.
- Further research comparing online and in-person training is warranted based on positive clinician feedback.
Related Concept Videos
01:23Techniques of Therapeutic Communication II: Focusing, Paraphrasing, and Summarizing
Focusing involves centering a conversation on a message's critical elements or concepts. Focusing is valuable if the talk is vague or patients begin to repeat themselves. Sometimes, when patients are asked about their symptoms, they may go off-topic and try to tell their entire life story. Respectfully, the nurse should bring the conversation back into focus.
This therapeutic technique can also be used when a patient brings up pertinent information during a health-related conversation. The...
This therapeutic technique can also be used when a patient brings up pertinent information during a health-related conversation. The...
01:30Therapeutic Communication
Communication is a lifelong learning process. Through therapeutic communication, nurses can collect relevant assessment data, provide education and counseling, and interact during nursing interventions. Sending and receiving messages occur through verbal and nonverbal communication techniques and can happen separately or simultaneously.
Verbal communication depends on language or a prescribed way of using words so that people can share information effectively. The critical aspects of verbal...
Verbal communication depends on language or a prescribed way of using words so that people can share information effectively. The critical aspects of verbal...
01:26Modeling in Therapy
Modeling, a key technique in therapy, uses observational learning to help clients acquire and practice new skills by watching therapists demonstrate desired behaviors. This approach, rooted in Albert Bandura's concept of vicarious learning, plays a significant role in therapeutic interventions for various psychological conditions, including social anxiety, ADHD, and depression.
Participant Modeling
Participant modeling involves therapists demonstrating calm and effective behaviors in situations...
Participant Modeling
Participant modeling involves therapists demonstrating calm and effective behaviors in situations...
01:25Role of Communication in the Nursing Process II: Planning and Implementation
Several factors are considered while creating a patient's care plan. Motivation is a factor in improving communication, and patients often require encouragement to try different approaches involving significant change. It is essential to involve the patient and family in decisions about the plan of care to determine whether the suggested methods are acceptable. Consider meeting critical comfort and safety needs before introducing new communication methods and techniques. Allow adequate time for...
01:20Nursing Process for Patient and Caregiver Teaching III: Evaluation and Documentation
Evaluation of the teaching process enables the nurse to determine if the patient's learning needs were met and if training was effective. If the expected outcomes are not met, the care plan is revised, and additional education or reinforcement is provided. Nurses can ask questions after the session or obtain feedback to assess the patient's understanding of the topic.
Nurses can use several methods to evaluate patient outcomes. For example, oral questions can assess cognitive learning, patient...
Nurses can use several methods to evaluate patient outcomes. For example, oral questions can assess cognitive learning, patient...
01:08Role of Communication in the Nursing Process III: Evaluation and Documentation
A successful patient outcome depends mainly on the evaluation stage of the nursing process. Evaluation determines effectiveness by reviewing what was done previously after the completion of nursing interventions. Every time a healthcare professional steps in or administers treatment, they must reassess or evaluate the action to ensure the intended result. During the evaluation phase, there are three probable patient outcomes: