Videotape analyses of medical students' interviewing skills

This research project investigates medical students' interviewing skills before and after a six-week clerkship in family and community medicine. Male and female medical students participating in a clerkship in family and community medicine were asked to conduct a pre- and post-videotape interview with a simulated patient. After the pre-test videotape, the student received feedback from the simulated patient and from a faculty member. Students than participated in a six-week clerkship with a family physician. Multivariate and univariate analyses of variance of pre- and post-test interviews showed significant pre-post differences on seven of ten interviewing skills and focal areas. Significant differences relating to students' year in medical school were also found.