title: Knowledge, attitude and performance of academic members regarding effective communication skills in education.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Communication is the most important part of any educational process, the aim of which is to transfer or exchange ideas and thoughts. It would be provided appropriately if academic members had the communication skills. Considering the important role of academic members in the educational process, in this study, the knowledge, attitude and performance of academic members of School of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, were investigated with regard to effective communication skills.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this descriptive-analytic study, all academic members of the School of Public Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, were studied during the second academic semester of 2006-2007. The data were collected by a valid and reliable three-part questionnaire including knowledge (8 questions and maximum score of 8), attitude (31 questions and maximum score of 155) and observational communication skills checklist (20 questions and maximum score of 20). The obtained data were analyzed by calculating central indices using SPSS software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean knowledge score of studied people in terms of communicational skills, attitude and performance were 4.1 out of 8, 114.4 out of 155 and 16.3 out of 20, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the information of the participants of this study in terms of communication skills was not sufficient, they seemed to have a positive attitude and relatively acceptable performance in communication skills.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Education, School of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Gholam R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Sharifirad
authors.forename: Mohsen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rezaeian
authors.forename: Akram
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jazini
authors.forename: Zinat S
authors.initials: ZS
authors.lastname: Etemadi
keywords: Academic members; attitude; communication skills; knowledge; performance
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