An Advanced Communication Skills Workshop Using Standardized Patients for Senior Medical Students.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Communication Skills Training

Background:

• Medical students require advanced communication skills for residency, particularly in emotionally charged situations.
• Current training often lacks sufficient focus on these critical skills.

Purpose of the Study:

• To create and evaluate an Advanced Communication Skills Workshop (ACSW) for senior medical students.
• To assess the workshop's effectiveness in improving communication skills for challenging clinical scenarios.

Main Methods:

• A workshop utilized standardized patients for four scenarios: strong emotion, goals of care, medical error, and palliative care.
• Students rotated roles as interviewer, observer, and feedback provider, using checklists and peer assessment.
• Data collected via post-workshop surveys with Likert and open-ended responses.

Main Results:

• Ninety-one students participated, rating all workshop roles highly valuable.
• The overall experience was rated above average to excellent.
• Key themes included appreciation for peer feedback and the utility of checklists.

Conclusions:

• The ACSW is a feasible and well-received model for practicing advanced communication skills.
• Peer-assisted, formative learning efficiently prepares medical students for residency.
• The workshop enhances essential skills for navigating complex patient interactions.