Developing effective communication skills in audiology using anonymous patient feedback

Area of Science:

• Audiology education
• Healthcare communication
• Patient feedback systems

Background:

• Effective communication is crucial in audiology practice.
• Student self-assessment of communication skills may not align with patient perceptions.
• Incorporating patient feedback into training can enhance clinical skills.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of anonymous patient feedback on audiology students' communication skills.
• To assess the congruence between student and patient evaluations of audiology students' professionalism, compassion, and communication.
• To understand how audiology students utilize patient feedback in their professional development.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods approach combining Likert scale surveys and semi-structured interviews.
• Patients and audiology students rated communication skills during clinical encounters.
• Students were interviewed about their experience receiving and utilizing patient feedback.

Main Results:

• Patient ratings generally exceeded student self-ratings, with significant correlation only in talking skills.
• Qualitative analysis revealed themes including emotional impacts, the value of the experience, differing priorities, patient-centeredness, and self-reflection.
• Patient feedback fostered a greater sense of seriousness and focus on patient-centered communication skills among students.

Conclusions:

• Anonymous patient feedback is a valuable tool for audiology student training, enhancing communication skills and patient-centeredness.
• The feedback process positively impacted student confidence and their understanding of the patient's perspective.
• Further investigation is warranted to explore the scalability and long-term effects of patient feedback programs in audiology education.