Is teaching communication skills integrated into Spanish medical schools curricula?

Dear Sir

It is taken for granted that the doctor-patient relationship is of great importance. It is thus necessary to teach communication skills in medical schools. However, little is known about how the training of this discipline is implemented into the curriculum structure of medical schools, especially in Spanish-speaking countries.

Traditionally in Spain this field was basically limited to postgraduate medical education, in contrast to other European countries. In 2005, the National Agency for Quality Assessment and Accreditation of Spain, which sets out the medical education curricula, affirmed “effective communication” as “one of the seven basic competences in medical education” (National Agency for Quality Assessment and Accreditation, 2005). Furthermore, since the early nineties it has been universally encouraged that “communication skills can be taught” (Simpson et al., 1991).

Now is a good time, almost ten years later, to evaluate the results of this decision in our Spanish medical schools. An exhaustive analysis of the curricula and the study programs across the web pages of all Spanish universities shows that at present, these recommendations are not completely integrated yet (data can be requested from the corresponding author). Although private schools have more modern study programs, these are not fully adjusted to Bologna recommendations for training in communication skills. Moreover, our research shows that public medical schools have significantly more credits-hours allocated to this course.

Currently, the teaching of communication skills has not been completely implemented into many Spanish medical schools’ curricula. Considering the national and international recommendations, an increase in the importance of communication skills in Spanish medical schools should have been expected. Nevertheless, there have been great changes in Spain. Much has been achieved since 1990; the average of credit-hours in this field has increased from 0.0 to 2.77.

Respecting the peculiarities of each university, we conclude that all Spanish medical schools should include these contents into their curricula as soon as possible and adhere to the recommendations. It should be pointed out that students must be trained in communication skills in order to facilitate an appropriate relationship with their future patients.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest.