OBJECTIVE: To determine if a communication skills training program for general practitioners involving context-rich learning experiences and 'peer review' of consultation transcripts results in communication skills acquisition and maintenance, while preserving time-efficiency in consultations. METHODS: A pre-test-post-test evaluation of training 20 general practitioners (GPs) in enhanced communication skills. Audio taped consultations with simulated patients in routine practice conducted before, within 2 weeks and again 6 months after communication skills training were analysed and consultation length measured. Transcripts were scored for specific skills to determine differences in short and longer-term competence of GPs for the communication skills. RESULTS: There was good evidence that GPs acquired key communication skills after training and that these were maintained over 6 months. Consultations remained within normal consultation length in primary care. CONCLUSION: Specific communication skills for acute bronchitis can be successfully acquired by GPs through context-rich communication training with peer review of transcripts with simulated patients, without making consultation length unfeasible. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: This approach to skill acquisition is useful for enhancing communication skills competence in general medical practice.
OBJECTIVE: To determine if a communication skills training program for general practitioners involving context-rich learning experiences and 'peer review' of consultation transcripts results in communication skills acquisition and maintenance, while preserving time-efficiency in consultations. METHODS: A pre-test-post-test evaluation of training 20 general practitioners (GPs) in enhanced communication skills. Audio taped consultations with simulated patients in routine practice conducted before, within 2 weeks and again 6 months after communication skills training were analysed and consultation length measured. Transcripts were scored for specific skills to determine differences in short and longer-term competence of GPs for the communication skills. RESULTS: There was good evidence that GPs acquired key communication skills after training and that these were maintained over 6 months. Consultations remained within normal consultation length in primary care. CONCLUSION: Specific communication skills for acute bronchitis can be successfully acquired by GPs through context-rich communication training with peer review of transcripts with simulated patients, without making consultation length unfeasible. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: This approach to skill acquisition is useful for enhancing communication skills competence in general medical practice.
Authors: Jochen W L Cals; Leon de Bock; Pieter-Jan H W Beckers; Nick A Francis; Rogier M Hopstaken; Kerenza Hood; Eefje G P M de Bont; Christopher C Butler; Geert-Jan Dinant Journal: Ann Fam Med Date: 2013 Mar-Apr Impact factor: 5.166
Authors: Christopher C Butler; Sharon A Simpson; Frank Dunstan; Stephen Rollnick; David Cohen; David Gillespie; Meirion R Evans; M Fasihul Alam; Marie-Jet Bekkers; John Evans; Laurence Moore; Robin Howe; Jamie Hayes; Monika Hare; Kerenza Hood Journal: BMJ Date: 2012-02-02
Authors: Geurt Essers; Sandra van Dulmen; Chris van Weel; Cees van der Vleuten; Anneke Kramer Journal: BMC Fam Pract Date: 2011-12-13 Impact factor: 2.497