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Scientific article
OA Policy
English

Residents' perceived needs in communication skills training across in- and outpatient clinical settings

Contributors

Junod Perron, Noëlle Astrid; Sommer, Johanna Maria; Hudelson Perneger, Patricia Martha; Demaurex-Meid, Florence; Luthy, Christophe; Louis Simonet, Martine; Nendaz, Mathieu; De Grave, Willem; Dolmans, Diana; Van der Vleuten, Cees

Published in

Education for health, vol. 22, no. 1, 280

Publication date

2009

Abstract

CONTEXT: Residents' perceived needs in communication skills training are important to identify before designing context-specific training programmes, since learrners' perceived needs can influence the effectiveness of training. OBJECTIVES: To explore residents' perceptions of their training needs and training experiences around communication skills, and whether these differ between residents training in inpatient and outpatient clinical settings. METHODS: Four focus groups (FG) and a self-administered questionnaire were conducted with residents working in in- and outpatient medical service settings at a Swiss University Hospital. Focus groups explored residents' perceptions of their communication needs, their past training experiences and suggestions for future training programmes in communication skills. Transcripts were analysed in a thematic way using qualitative analytic approaches. All residents from both settings were asked to complete a questionnaire that queried their sociodemographics and amount of prior training in communication skills. FINDINGS: In focus groups, outpatient residents felt that communication skills were especially useful in addressing chronic diseases and social issues. In contrast, inpatient residents emphasized the importance of good communication skills for dealing with family conflicts and end-of-life issues. Felt needs reflected residents' differing service priorities: outpatient residents saw the need for skills to structure the consultation and explore patients' perspectives in order to build therapeutic alliances, whereas inpatient residents wanted techniques to help them break bad news, provide information and increase their own well-being. The survey's overall response rate was 56%. Its data showed that outpatient residents received more training in communication skills and more of them than inpatient residents considered communication skills training to be useful (100% vs 74%). DISCUSSION: Outpatient residents' perceived needs in communication skills were more patient-centered than the needs perceived by inpatient residents. Residents' perceived needs for communication skills may differ not only because of their differing service priorities but also because of differences in their previous experiences with communication skills training. These factors should be taken into account when designing a training programme in communication skills.

Keywords

  • Adult
  • Ambulatory Care Facilities
  • Communication
  • Female
  • Focus Groups
  • Humans
  • Internship and Residency
  • Male
  • Needs Assessment/organization & administration
  • Professional Competence
  • Questionnaires
  • Switzerland

UNIGE affiliation entities

UNIGE research groups

Citation (ISO format)

JUNOD PERRON, Noëlle Astrid et al. Residents” perceived needs in communication skills training across in- and outpatient clinical settings. In: Education for health, 2009, vol. 22, n° 1, p. 280.

Main files (1)

Article (Published version)

Identifiers

Additional URL for this publication

http://educationforhealth.net/articles/subviewnew.asp?ArticleID=280

Journal ISSN

1357-6283
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464downloads

Technical informations

Creation

02/03/2010 16:12:00

First validation

02/03/2010 16:12:00

Update

14/03/2023 15:24:34

Status update

14/03/2023 15:24:34

Last indexation

29/10/2024 13:03:06
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