Korean J Med Educ.  2018 Jun;30(2):153-159. 10.3946/kjme.2018.90.

The effect of communication training using standardized patients on nonverbal behaviors in medical students

• Park KH
• Park SG

• KMID: 2435222
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3946/kjme.2018.90

Abstract

PURPOSE
Nonverbal communication (NVC) is important in the patient-physician relationship, but the effect of NVC education is not well kown. In this study, we try to identify if students' NVC abilities are improved through communication training.
METHODS
First-year medical students conducted medical interviews, which were performed with standardized patients (SPs) before and after communication skill education, and recorded in video. Fifty-one students were enrolled for this study. Two researchers used the NVC checklist, which consists of 12 nonverbal behaviors, to analyze and compare the students' nonverbal expressions in the interviews recorded before and after the education.
RESULTS
After the students participated in communication training, open body position and adequate facial expression were increased while unnecessary silence, un-purposive movements, and giggling were decreased. These results can be interpreted as positive effects of the education. However, hand gesture was increased as a negative effect of the education. The total NVC score of the 12 nonverbal behaviors in the NVC checklist improved significantly, rising from 8.56 to 10.03.
CONCLUSION
Communication skill education using SPs can improve nonverbal behaviors of medical students, especially facial expression, un-purposive movement, body position, unnecessary silence, and giggle, but not hand gesture. Further research is needed on a variety of teaching methods to improve NVCs.

Keyword

Nonverbal communication; Medical students; Medical education; Simulation; Patient; Feedback

MeSH Terms

Checklist
Education
Education, Medical
Facial Expression
Gestures
Hand
Humans
Nonverbal Communication
Students, Medical*
Teaching