title: Can interactive skills-based seminars with standardized patients enhance clinicians' prevention skills? Measuring the impact of a CME program.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Communication skills are crucial for high-risk behavior screening and counseling. Practicing physicians have limited opportunities to improve these skills. This paper assesses the impact of a continuing medical education (CME) program for Student Health Center clinicians that targeted communication skills, screening practices and patient satisfaction.
  
  
  METHODS
  Program evaluation included pre- and post-objective structured clinical examinations (OSCE's), chart review, and provider and patient satisfaction surveys. Data were analyzed using paired t-tests and ranked sum tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  OSCE scores (n=15) revealed significant improvements in communication skills overall (p=0.004) and within specific domains (data gathering: p=0.003; rapport building: p=0.01; patient education: p=0.02), but no change in case-specific knowledge (p=0.1). Participants (n=14) reported high satisfaction with program methods (mean=4.6/5) and content (mean=4.7/5), 70% planning to alter their clinical practice. Chart audits (pre=96, post=103) showed increased screening for smoking (RR 1.65, p=0.03), depressed mood (RR 1.40, p=0.04), anhedonia (RR 1.47, p=0.01), sexual activity (RR 1.73, p=0.002) and drinking (RR 1.77, p=0.04). Sampling of satisfaction among participants' patients (pre n=689, post n=383) detected no increase in already high baseline satisfaction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This curriculum improved clinicians' relevant skills and screening behavior.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Skills-oriented CME can improve clinicians' communication skills and screening and counseling practices.
authors.affiliation: New York University School of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA. sondra.zabar@nyumc.org
authors.forename: Sondra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zabar
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hanley
authors.forename: David L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Stevens
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ciotoli
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.forename: Cecily
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Griesser
authors.forename: Marian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: Adina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kalet
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence; D003142:Communication; D003162:Competency-Based Education; D003479:Curriculum; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D016544:Patient Simulation; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D010821:Physicians, Family / Q000193:education; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation