title: [Communication Test for Foreign Physicians in Germany: The Patient Communication Test].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The number of foreign doctors in Germany has increased steadily in recent years. To obtain the German medical license, sufficient language competence is mandatory. Nevertheless, in practice, foreign doctors have considerable difficulties in their communication with patients, medical colleagues and other health professionals. This can lead to misunderstandings and thus impair patient safety. To overcome this problem, the "patient communication test" was developed and piloted as an additional requirement to be granted license to practice medicine in Germany. The aim of this study is to present our results in the development and piloting of this test.
  
  
  METHODS
  3 OSCE stations (Objective Structured Clinical Examination) were designed, which evaluate communication skills in 3 medical competences: history taking, case presentation and explaining to patients before obtaining informed consent. After extensive instruction of actors as patients and raters on the basis of the evaluation criteria, the communication test was subjected to pilot studies in 6 different cities (Freiburg, Jena, Mainz, Mannheim, Tübingen, and Ulm).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 2013, 639 foreign doctors participated in the test; 461 (72.14%) of these doctors passed the test on their first try, 51 (7.98%) on their second attempt and 6 (0.93%) on their third try.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The patient communication test evaluates the communication skills of foreign doctors in OSCE-setting using standardized actor-patients. This improves the communication skills and enhances patient safety in the German health care system by smooth inter-professional and patient-centered communication.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie, Universitätsklinikum Freiburg, Freiburg.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Farhan
authors.affiliation: Institut für Psychologie, Universität Freiburg, Freiburg.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Leonhart
authors.affiliation: Institut für Psychologie, Universität Freiburg, Freiburg.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Puffe
authors.affiliation: Institut für medizinische Biometrie und Statistik, Universität Freiburg, Freiburg.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boeker
authors.affiliation: Klinik für psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie, Universitätsklinikum Freiburg, Freiburg.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wirsching
mesh_terms: D000068:Accreditation; D003142:Communication; D004521:Educational Measurement / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000193:education* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005550:Foreign Medical Graduates / Q000193:education* / Q000592:standards; D058005:General Practitioners / Q000193:education / Q000592:standards; D005858:Germany; D008007:Licensure, Medical / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations