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Effects of micro- and subtle-expression reading skill training in medical students: A randomized trial
Eun Ho Yu1, Eun Jung Choi2, Sang Yeoup Lee3
1Department of Medical Education, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Yangsan, South Korea.
Objective:
to investigate the effectiveness of the Micro Expression Training Tool (METT) and the Subtle Expression Training Tool (SETT) to help improve the non-verbal communication skills of medical students.
Methods:
In a randomized controlled trial, all participants were randomly allocated to either a training (n=41) or control group (n=41) and were pre-tested before education with METT and SETT at baseline. Then, training students took second tests after a 1-h class about interpreting micro and subtle expressions and control students took the second tests without the class.
Results:
METT pre-test scores were positively related with female gender, agreeableness, whereas SETT pre-test scores were negatively related with age and positively related with female gender. Mean METT score increases of 29.3% and mean SETT score increases of 36.2% were observed after training, whereas the control group achieved only a mean METT score increase of 11.0% at second testing. Increases in both test scores in the training group were significantly higher than in the control group.
Conclusion:
METT and SETT are effective, simple tools for improving the micro- and subtle-expression reading skills of medical students.
Practice Implications:
METT and SETT can be effective for improving the non-verbal communication skills of medical students.
