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Abstract
Objective: To determine the communication skills level of Postgraduate residents (PGRs) working in Rawalpindi Medical University (RMU) using Health Professionals Communication Skills Scale (HP-CSS).
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at RMU over a period of one month in January, 2020. All PGRs working at RMU were included in the study. For communication skills assessment, HP-CSS was used, which is an 18-question scale, reported on a Likert scale. It assesses communication skill in four subscales: informative communication, empathy, social skills and respect. Data was analyzed using SPSS 26.
Results: Of the 191 respondents, 105 (54.9%) were satisfied with their communication skills level. Overall HP-CSS score was significantly higher among those who had attended communication skills workshop (p=0.02), among nonsmokers (p=0.038), those who were satisfied with their communication skills (p=0.001) and those who would like to be addressed in the same manner as they had addressed the patient (p=0.001). Among subscales of HP-CSS, informative communication was significantly higher among nonsmokers (p=0.049), who had attended communication skills workshop (p=0.017) and who were satisfied with their communication skills (p=0.012). Also, empathy was significantly higher among those who were satisfied with their communication skills (p=0.004). Respect was found significantly higher among those who were engaged (p=0.03), those who had attended communication skills workshop (p=0.001) and those who were satisfied with their communication skills (p=0.017). Social skills were significantly higher among medicine and allied residents (p=0.04), those who were non-boarders (p=0.047) and who were satisfied with their communication skills (p=0.001)
Conclusion: In general, CS were better among those who had attended its workshop and among non-smokers.