Do physicians improve their communication skills between finishing medical school and completing internship? A nationwide prospective observational cohort study.
OBJECTIVE
To test whether young physicians improve their communication skills between graduating from medical school and completing clinical internship, and to explore contributing background and/or internship factors.


METHODS
Norwegian medical students graduating June 2004 were invited to take part in a videotaped standardized patient interview February 2004. Of the 111 students who originally participated, 62 completed a second interview February 2006. Observed communication skills were assessed with the Arizona Communication Interview Rating Scale (ACIR).


RESULTS
The level of communication skills increased significantly during the period for participants overall; and for females but not males. General social skills reached significantly higher levels than specific professional skills, both types of skill improving during the study. Independent predictors were working in local hospitals, learning atmosphere and low stress. At school completion, 50% reached a level defined as 'advanced beginner'. Towards the end of the internship, 58% reached 'capable' and 27% 'competent' levels of communication skills.


CONCLUSIONS
Female physicians improved most in communication skills, the gender difference being multivariate mediated through low stress levels and learning atmosphere. The findings support the division of communication skills into general social and specific professional skills.


CONCLUSIONS
The relatively low proportion of young physicians, especially males, developing the capability to practise independently at internship completion indicates a need for more effective training in communication skills, during both medical school and internship.
Gude
Tore
T
Department of Behavioral Sciences in Medicine and Institute of General Practice and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway. tore.gude@medisin.uio.no
Vaglum
Per
P
Anvik
Tor
T
Baerheim
Anders
A
Fasmer
Ole Bernt
OB
Grimstad
Hilde
H
Hjortdahl
Per
P
Holen
Are
A
Nordøy
Tone
T
Eide
Hilde
H
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003142:Communication; D003479:Curriculum; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D009664:Norway; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D010820:Physicians; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012577:Schools, Medical; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013337:Students, Medical