Boston University School of Medicine
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Enhancing Basic Communication Skills
Purpose: To reinforce the basic skills of doctor/patient communication and improve assessment of student success in using them.
Objectives: The reinforcement of effective behaviors including the students' ability to 1) Introduce themselves; 2) Gather information using an open-ended approach; collect all of the information necessary to completing a history of present illness; obtain pertinent information regarding the patient's perspective of the illness; 3) Be attentive to the emotional content of the interview; 4) Obtain a developmental and functional history in appropriate circumstances.
Educational Methods: Faculty development workshops on observing clinical communication skills and providing feedback (interactive discussion, demonstration role-play and full participation role play). Introduction of End of Clerkships OSCEs to evaluate student performance.
Applications: End of Clerkship OSCEs in Family Medicine, Geriatrics, Pediatrics (standardized parents).