Current trends in communication skills training in UK schools of medicine

Abstract

Background: Communication Skills Training (CST) is now mandatory for all students in UK Schools of Medicine. However, the extent to which all schools follow a similar curriculum is unclear.

Aims: This paper reports the findings of a survey of CST teaching in all UK Schools and compares the findings with an earlier survey.

Methods: A specially designed questionnaire survey was sent to all Schools, and this was supplemented by follow-up telephone interviews.

Results: There is a high level of consensus across Schools about the aims and objectives of CST, its location within the overall curriculum, and how it is assessed. There is also a dedicated staff member specifically responsible for CST delivery in all Schools. A wide number of different specialisms also contribute to training. However, wide variations remain in CST pedagogy. In addition, several problems were identified in relation to the integration and operation of CST.

Conclusions: While the paper identifies and delineates a typical or ‘modal’ model of CST in UK Schools of Medicine, it also emphasizes the importance of flexibility in this part of the curriculum.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Owen Hargie

OWEN HARGIE is Professor in the School of Communication, and a member of the Psychology Research Institute, at the University of Ulster. He is also visiting Professor at University of Chester and at Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen. He has published 20 books and over 100 refereed Journal articles.

Mairead Boohan

MAIREAD BOOHAN is Deputy Director, Centre for Medical Education, Queen's University Belfast. She has extensive experience in the areas of curriculum development and assessment.

Mairead McCoy

Dr MAIREAD MCCOY is Lecturer in the School of Communication at the University of Ulster. She has published in journals such as the Journal of Communication Management, Communication Director and Industrial Marketing Management.

Pauline Murphy

PAULINE MURPHY is currently completing a PhD at the School of Sociology, Social Policy and Social Work, Queen's University Belfast. Prior to this, she worked as a teaching assistant at the School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast teaching various aspects of medical sociology.