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Improving Oratory Skills: An "American Idol" Presentation Competition for Residents
David A Hill1, Jean-Carlos Jimenez2, Mitchell R Price3
1Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, USA.
Cureus
|October 2, 2018
Summary
Physicians can improve presentation skills through a structured, entertaining course. This training significantly enhanced communication and slide design for surgical residents.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Surgical Training
- Communication Skills
Background:
- Physicians require high-quality oral presentation skills.
- Residency programs offer limited training in presentation abilities.
- A need exists for structured programs to enhance physician oratory skills.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design and implement a course aimed at improving surgical residents' oratory skills.
- To assess the effectiveness of the course in enhancing presentation abilities.
Main Methods:
- A single-elimination tournament format was employed for senior surgical residents (postgraduate years 3 and 4).
- Audience members (junior residents, attending physicians, PAs, medical students) voted for top presenters.
- Faculty provided constructive feedback on oration, slide layout, and presentation format.
- Baseline and post-course surveys evaluated changes in presentation skills.
Main Results:
- Seven senior residents competed, with 17 junior residents and other healthcare professionals in the audience.
- A statistically significant improvement in communication skills and slide layout was observed (p < 0.01).
- Both presenters and audience members found the course beneficial.
Conclusions:
- A structured public speaking and presentation skills course is effective for surgical residents.
- The course, combined with an engaging format, successfully developed oratory skills.
- This educational approach can enhance physician communication effectiveness.