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LETTER TO THE EDITOR |
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Year : 2020 | Volume
: 68
| Issue : 7 | Page : 1501-1502 |
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Comments on: Development and introduction of a communication skills module for postgraduate students of ophthalmology
Naomi Melamed1, Vilomi Bhatia1, Grace O J Poole1, Eyal I Ben-David2
1 St. George's, University of London, Tooting, London, SW17 0RE, United Kingdom 2 St. George's University Hospital NHS Trust, Tooting, London, SW17 0RE, United Kingdom
Date of Web Publication | 25-Jun-2020 |
Correspondence Address: Miss. Naomi Melamed St. George's, University of London, Tooting, London, SW17 0RE United Kingdom
Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/ijo.IJO_81_20
How to cite this article: Melamed N, Bhatia V, Poole GO, Ben-David EI. Comments on: Development and introduction of a communication skills module for postgraduate students of ophthalmology. Indian J Ophthalmol 2020;68:1501-2 |
Dear Editor,
We would like to thank Bhagat et al. for their article highlighting the need for structured training in communication skills for postgraduate ophthalmology students.[1] While reassured by the effectiveness of their proposed teaching model, we found it surprising to read that there is a lack of communication skills teaching currently within medical school curricula.
Despite communication skills being a key competency of the proficient clinician, the authors report they are not formally taught during medical school. Our review of the literature has yielded contrasting results. We found a breadth of research indicating that communication skills teaching is both widely incorporated in medical school curricula and also has a well-established evidence base.[2],[3]
However, there is little to indicate that this type of training occurs beyond medical school. The authors of the current study acknowledge this issue and therefore propose their model of communication skills teaching for postgraduate trainees. Although the model is proven effective for the observed cohort, they conclude that it should be incorporated into undergraduate medical curricula. While we agree that communication skills should play an important role in medical school, we are uncertain whether the results of this study can support the model being incorporated into undergraduate education. Moreover, the authors do not explain why this teaching is unsuitable for postgraduate students, despite demonstrating such high satisfaction rates. In fact, many argue that ongoing communications teaching and consolidation of learning is essential to postgraduate training.[4] This is especially important as both students and residents only retain the learnt skills for around two years following didactic teaching.[5]
To summarize, it is our view that there is currently sufficient teaching of communications skills in medical schools. However, we agree with Bhagat et al. that further development of communication skills teaching for postgraduate students is also required.
Financial support and sponsorship
Nil.
Conflicts of interest
There are no conflicts of interest.
References | | |
1. | Bhagat PR, Prajapati KM, Bhatt RB, Prajapati VK, Dureja R, Tank GP, et al. Development and introduction of a communication skills module for postgraduate students of ophthalmology. Indian J Ophthalmol 2019;67:1810-5. [ PUBMED] [Full text] |
2. | Von Fragstein M, Silverman J, Cushing A, Quilligan S, Salisbury H, Wiskin C. UK consensus statement on the content of communication curricula in undergraduate medical education. Med Educ 2008;42:1100-7. |
3. | Junod Perron N, Klöckner Cronauer C, Hautz SC, Schnabel KP, Breckwoldt J, Monti M, et al. How do Swiss medical schools prepare their students to become good communicators in their future professional careers: A questionnaire and interview study involving medical graduates, teachers and curriculum coordinators. BMC Med Educ 2018;18:285. |
4. | Hyde S, Hannigan A, Dornan T, McGrath D. Medical school clinical placements-the optimal method for assessing the clinical educational environment from a graduate entry perspective. BMC MedEduc 2018;18:7. |
5. | Oh J, Segal R, Gordon J, Boal J, Jotkowitz A. Retention and use of patient-centered interviewing skills after intensive training. Acad Med 2001;76:647-50. |
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