title: Concordance between Self and Standardized Patient Ratings of Medical Students' Communication Skills.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to examine the concordance between self and standardized patient (SP) ratings of medical students' communication skills.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-three students interviewed SPs. The students were asked to complete a communication skills questionnaire that comprised 2 measures (empathy and interpersonal communication) before the interview. After each student's interview with the SP, the latter completed the same questionnaire as the students.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Based on Lin's concordance coefficient, there was strong disconcordance between students' self-ratings and the SPs' ratings. With regard to empathic communication, more than 50% of students who considered themselves higher than middle level were regarded by SP as low level. On interpersonal communication, 39% of students who assessed themselves as higher than middle level were scored low level by SPs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was strong disconcordance between students' self-ratings and the SPs' ratings-students tended to overevaluate themselves regarding their communication skills. These differences might result in patient dissatisfaction and noncompliance. Further, it could become a serious hindrance to the development of a good doctor-patient relationship. Medical educators should make sincere efforts to reduce this gap by teaching medical students the importance of the patients' perception of his doctors' communication skills.
authors: Department of Social Studies of Medicine, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Yangsan, Korea.
authors: Min Ji
authors: MJ
authors: Je
authors: Department of Social Studies of Medicine, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Yangsan, Korea.
authors: Su Hyun
authors: SH
authors: Lee
authors: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Yangsan, Korea.
authors: Chang Hyung
authors: CH
authors: Lee
authors: Department of Social Studies of Medicine, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Yangsan, Korea.
authors: Sung Soo
authors: SS
authors: Kim
keywords: Empathic communication; Interpersonal communication; Lin’s concordance; Overevaluation of
  communication skills; Standardized patients