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Abstract
Abstract
Background: Efficient communication is the mainstay of a productive patient–physician relationship. Efficient use of proficient communication skills is essential for patient’s care, therapeutic and diagnostic purposes as well in establishing satisfactory doctor-patient relationship.
Objective : To compare the communication skills in third year and final year MBBS students of Rawalpindi Medical University and to assess the gap in communication skills for third year and final year MBBS students of the University.
Materials and Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted in March-December 2021 after institutional review board approval at Rawalpindi Medical University, Pakistan. Of 242 participants, 121 students each from third and final year were asked to fill the questionnaire according to Kalamazoo scale []. Data were analyzed using SPSS 25. The mean, standard deviation and P-value was calculated to assess the communication skills on variables of interest. (P-value< 0.05 was considered significant).
Results: The number of students with average communication skills from third year were 21.5%, and with good communication skills 78.5%. In final year, average communication skills were found in 15.7% and 84.3% had good communication skills. In our study gathering information from patients showed significant P-value (p=0.002).
Conclusions: Results suggested that final year students had stronger grip on communication skills, specifically in gathering information from patients, as compared to third year. Both third year and final year students had a major communication skill gap in reaching agreement and understanding patient problem. These results propose that comprehensive communication training, workshops and feedback may be needed to increase student's perception of various aspects of communication.
Keywords: Communication skills, undergraduates.