Can undergraduate education have an effect on the ways in which pre-registration house officers conceptualise communication?

Full Abstract

AIMS:
In 1994 Manchester Medical School introduced a learner-centred course using problem-based learning (PBL), which emphasises effective communication skills. This study explored how 2 cohorts of graduates conceptualised communication within their role as pre-registration house officer (PRHOs).

METHODS:
Graduates from the last year of the traditional and first year of the new course were interviewed 3 months after starting work. They were asked how well their courses had prepared them for working as PRHOs and were given a specific question about communication skills. Interviews were tape-recorded, transcribed, coded and analysed.

RESULTS:
In all, 24 traditional course graduates (TCGs) and 23 new course graduates (NCGs) were interviewed. Traditional course graduates tended to conceptualise communication as informing people rather than as involving negotiation or having therapeutic effects. Most TCGs considered good communicators 'were born that way' and did not think communication skills could be learned. Many NCGs had a richer concept of communication that recognised communication has therapeutic benefits for patients and involved negotiation. They understood it was possible to teach communication skills. However, a minority of NCGs conceptualised communication in a similar way to TCGs.

CONCLUSION:
Our study suggests that the new course has helped NCGs acquire a more complex concept of communication in their role as PRHOs.

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Author information

Author/s: Willis, S C (SC); Jones, A (A); O'Neill, P A (PA);

Affiliation: University of Manchester, Medical Education Unit, 1st Floor, Rusholme Health Centre, Walmer Street, Manchester M14 5NP, UK. sarah.willis(-atsign-)man

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Medical education (Med Educ), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2003-Jul; vol 37 (issue 7) : pp 603-8

Dates: Created 2003/07/01; Completed 2003/08/25; Revised 2006/11/15;

PMID: 12834417, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

Comments and Corrections

CommentIn: Med Educ. 2003 Jul;37(7):580-1. (PMID: 12834411)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Cohort Studies
Communication
Curriculum
Education, Medical, Undergraduate - methods
England

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