Impact of tailored feedback in assessment of communication skills for medical students

Figures & data

Table 1 Change in acceptance of feedback by adding information based on qualitative analysis

	After routine feedback*		After additional feedback
	Nonstudy group	Study group	Study group
Disagree	32 (52.4%)	13 (50.0%)	0 (0.0%)
Neutral	21 (34.4%)	9 (34.6%)	5 (19.2%)
Agree	8 (13.1%)	4 (15.4%)	21 (80.8%)**

*p=0.956: comparison of study group and nonstudy group within after routine feedback.

**p<0.001: comparison of after routine feedback and after feedback using qualitative analysis for study group (N=26).

Table 2 Frequently observed behaviors of students during interview and corresponding feedback

Observed behaviors (n=number of students)	Positive feedback	Negative feedback
Smiling at the SPs (n=22)	This could portray your kindness and warmth when demonstrated at the beginning of consultation	Smiling at SP who was describing their pain could be insulting
‘Was it easy to find the hospital?’ (n=19)	It could show your familiarity and concern for SP	When such comment is made in the middle of the conversation and out of context, it would give an impression that you had suddenly remembered to ask this
‘Does it affect your activities?’ (n=23)	Could show your concern about SP's quality of life beyond the disease itself	When said at the beginning right after introducing yourself, this could be inappropriate to SP
‘It must have been very difficult for you’ (n=18)	Shows sympathy towards the suffering SP	Without eye contact and proper posture, it could deliver the wrong message ‘I got angry … because it sounded like he was judging on my physical appearance’
‘Everything will be fine’ (n=21)	Good to sound caring, which could calm the SP	Communicating with cold and rigid look on the face could give an impression that you do not care about the SPs
Use of summary (n=21)	Good to check patients’ understanding	When used too frequently, it could imply that SP is unable to understand the explanation ‘I felt unpleasant to be considered stupid’
Sitting upright on the chair (n=24)	Good to appear polite, gentle, and respectful to the SP	Too rigid might come across as artificial. If needed turn lightly ‘I didn't like him looking like nova's posture of sitting upright continuously’, said SP
Pause (n=16)	Makes SP feel comfortable, enabling them to feel free to talk	Without proper intervals, you could appear to be hesitating ‘Silence was too long, so I began to be anxious thinking what's wrong with my talk and she looked clumsy’