title: Pilot Evaluation of a Communication Skills Training Program for Psychiatry Residents Using Standardized Patient Assessment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Mental health clinicians can experience difficulties communicating diagnostic information to patients and their families/carers, especially about distressing psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia. There is evidence for the effectiveness of communication skills training (CST) for improving diagnostic discussions, particularly in specialties such as oncology, but only limited evidence exists about CST for psychiatry. This study evaluated a CST program specifically developed for psychiatry residents called ComPsych that focuses on conveying diagnostic and prognostic information about schizophrenia.
  
  
  METHODS
  The ComPsych program consists of an introductory lecture, module booklets for trainees, and exemplary skills videos, followed by small group role-plays with simulated patients (SPs) led by a trained facilitator. A standardized patient assessment (SPA) was digitally recorded pre- and post-training with a SP using a standardized scenario in a time-limited (15 min) period. Recorded SPAs were independently rated using a validated coding system (ComSkil) to identify frequency of skills used in five skills categories (agenda setting, checking, questioning, information organization, and empathic communication).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty trainees (15 males and 15 females; median age = 32) undertaking their vocational specialty training in psychiatry participated in ComPsych training and pre- and post-ComPsych SPAs. Skills increased post-training for agenda setting (d = -0.82), while questioning skills (d = 0.56) decreased. There were no significant differences in any other skills grouping, although checking, information organization, and empathic communication skills tended to increase post-training. A dose effect was observed for agenda setting, with trainees who attended more CST sessions outperforming those attending fewer.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings support the generalization and translation of ComPsych CST to psychiatry.
authors.affiliation: Hunter New England Mental Health, Newcastle, NSW, Australia. philippa.ditton-phare@hnehealth.nsw.gov.au.|University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia. philippa.ditton-phare@hnehealth.nsw.gov.au.
authors.forename: Philippa
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ditton-Phare
authors.affiliation: Hunter New England Mental Health, Newcastle, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Harsimrat
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sandhu
authors.affiliation: University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.affiliation: Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia.|Schizophrenia Research Institute (SRI), Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kissane
authors.affiliation: University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia.|Schizophrenia Research Institute (SRI), Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Carmel
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Loughland
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003142:Communication; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016544:Patient Simulation; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D011379:Prognosis; D011570:Psychiatry / Q000193:education*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014342:Truth Disclosure
keywords: Communication; Evaluation; Internship and residency; Medical graduate education; Psychiatry