Residents′ perceptions of communication skills in postgraduate medical training programs of Pakistan

<b>Background: </b> The importance of communication skills in postgraduate medical training is likely to be highlighted given the convergence of research and educational forces. Assessment of these skills in residency training is vital since it can provide basis for policy undertaking am...

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Main Authors: Avan B, Raza Syed, Afridi H
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2005-01-01
Series:Journal of Postgraduate Medicine
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.jpgmonline.com/article.asp?issn=0022-3859;year=2005;volume=51;issue=2;spage=85;epage=91;aulast=Avan
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spelling doaj-84a9de89d3504b078eb7688822788b562020-11-24T23:04:40ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsJournal of Postgraduate Medicine0022-38590972-28232005-01-015128591Residents&#x2032; perceptions of communication skills in postgraduate medical training programs of PakistanAvan BRaza SyedAfridi H<b>Background: </b> The importance of communication skills in postgraduate medical training is likely to be highlighted given the convergence of research and educational forces. Assessment of these skills in residency training is vital since it can provide basis for policy undertaking among Pakistani medical academia for improving postgraduate training programs. <b> Aim: </b> To assess the perceived status of communication skills of residents in different specialties. <b> Materials and Methods: </b> A cross sectional survey was conducted in four teaching hospitals of Karachi between July 1999 and January 2001. A total of 455 residents in different residency programs were contacted. Residents registered both with College of Physicians and Surgeons of Pakistan and Postgraduate Medical Education office of selected hospitals were included in this study. Responses of residents were obtained on 5-point Likert scale. Indices were formed for three components of communication skills: informative, affective and professional communication. <b> Statistical Analysis: </b> Differences between residents&#x2032; groups were assessed through analysis of variance. <b> Results: </b> Total informative communication index was lowest for multi-disciplinary (12.05, SD = 4.87) and highest for surgical (15.27, SD = 2.51) residents. Total affective index was lowest for multi-disciplinary (12.58, SD = 5.68) and highest for medical (15.74, SD = 3.59) residents. The group differences for four groups of residency programs were not statistically significant for either professional attributes separately or for the total professional index. <b> Conclusions: </b> The residency programs must establish goals, process and outcomes to incorporate communication skills in postgraduate medical training since this can enhance residents&#x2032; performance as effective health care providers. Accomplishment of better communication skills can be achieved if the importance of its teaching and training is valued by residency program coordinators. http://www.jpgmonline.com/article.asp?issn=0022-3859;year=2005;volume=51;issue=2;spage=85;epage=91;aulast=AvanCommunicationresidencyanalysis of variancePakistan
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Avan B
Raza Syed
Afridi H
spellingShingle Avan B
Raza Syed
Afridi H
Residents&#x2032; perceptions of communication skills in postgraduate medical training programs of Pakistan
Journal of Postgraduate Medicine
Communication
residency
analysis of variance
Pakistan
author_facet Avan B
Raza Syed
Afridi H
author_sort Avan B
title Residents&#x2032; perceptions of communication skills in postgraduate medical training programs of Pakistan
title_short Residents&#x2032; perceptions of communication skills in postgraduate medical training programs of Pakistan
title_full Residents&#x2032; perceptions of communication skills in postgraduate medical training programs of Pakistan
title_fullStr Residents&#x2032; perceptions of communication skills in postgraduate medical training programs of Pakistan
title_full_unstemmed Residents&#x2032; perceptions of communication skills in postgraduate medical training programs of Pakistan
title_sort residents&#x2032; perceptions of communication skills in postgraduate medical training programs of pakistan
publisher Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
series Journal of Postgraduate Medicine
issn 0022-3859
0972-2823
publishDate 2005-01-01
description <b>Background: </b> The importance of communication skills in postgraduate medical training is likely to be highlighted given the convergence of research and educational forces. Assessment of these skills in residency training is vital since it can provide basis for policy undertaking among Pakistani medical academia for improving postgraduate training programs. <b> Aim: </b> To assess the perceived status of communication skills of residents in different specialties. <b> Materials and Methods: </b> A cross sectional survey was conducted in four teaching hospitals of Karachi between July 1999 and January 2001. A total of 455 residents in different residency programs were contacted. Residents registered both with College of Physicians and Surgeons of Pakistan and Postgraduate Medical Education office of selected hospitals were included in this study. Responses of residents were obtained on 5-point Likert scale. Indices were formed for three components of communication skills: informative, affective and professional communication. <b> Statistical Analysis: </b> Differences between residents&#x2032; groups were assessed through analysis of variance. <b> Results: </b> Total informative communication index was lowest for multi-disciplinary (12.05, SD = 4.87) and highest for surgical (15.27, SD = 2.51) residents. Total affective index was lowest for multi-disciplinary (12.58, SD = 5.68) and highest for medical (15.74, SD = 3.59) residents. The group differences for four groups of residency programs were not statistically significant for either professional attributes separately or for the total professional index. <b> Conclusions: </b> The residency programs must establish goals, process and outcomes to incorporate communication skills in postgraduate medical training since this can enhance residents&#x2032; performance as effective health care providers. Accomplishment of better communication skills can be achieved if the importance of its teaching and training is valued by residency program coordinators.
topic Communication
residency
analysis of variance
Pakistan
url http://www.jpgmonline.com/article.asp?issn=0022-3859;year=2005;volume=51;issue=2;spage=85;epage=91;aulast=Avan
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