title: Bridging the gap: How is integrating communication skills with medical content throughout the curriculum valued by students?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe a program with integrated learning of communication and consultation skills developed with the intention of preventing deterioration of communication skills, and to present student evaluation data.
  
  
  METHODS
  Description and evaluation of the program through: (1) monthly student evaluations; (2) questionnaire on student perceptions about the integrated curriculum; (3) a questionnaire about the value of one specific integrated training preceding the pediatric clerkship.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Key components of training throughout years 3-6 are reinforcement throughout the clinical years, adapting communication training to the clinical context of clerkships using a sandwich model with cycles of preparation, clerkship, and reflection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  response rates were 69%, 93% and 93%, respectively. Students value practicing integration of communication and medical content with SPs who represent the population of their next clerkships. They appreciate the multisource feedback during the training, feedback by clerkship specific specialists and SPs is valued most.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This description shows an example of an integrated curriculum that helps students to feel well prepared for their communication tasks in subsequent clerkships.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Designing and implementing communication curricula to address the issue of integration is feasible. The effects of such integrated programs should be subject to future studies.
authors.affiliation: Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, The Netherlands. e.vanweel-baumgarten@elg.umcn.nl
authors.forename: Evelyn
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: van Weel-Baumgarten
authors.forename: Sanneke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bolhuis
authors.forename: Marcy
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rosenbaum
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Silverman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002982:Clinical Clerkship / Q000379:methods*; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003142:Communication; D003479:Curriculum; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate / Q000379:methods*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands; D010465:Perception; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000379:methods; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult