EQClinic: a platform for learning communication skills in clinical consultations
File(s)
Author(s)
Liu, Chunfeng
Scott, Karen M
Lim, Renee L
Taylor, Silas
Calvo, Rafael A
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Doctors' verbal and non-verbal communication skills have an impact on patients' health outcomes, so it is important for medical students to develop these skills. Traditional, non-verbal communication skills training can involve a tutor manually annotating a student's non-verbal behaviour during patient-doctor consultations, but this is very time-consuming. Tele-conference systems have been used in verbal communication skills training. METHODS: We describe EQClinic, a system that enables verbal and non-verbal communication skills training during tele-consultations with simulated patients (SPs), with evaluation exercises promoting reflection. Students and SPs can have tele-consultations through the tele-consultation component. In this component, SPs can provide feedback to students through a thumbs-up/ thumbs-down tool and a comments box. EQClinic automatically analyses communication features in the recorded consultations, such as facial expressions, and provides graphical representations. Our 2015 pilot study investigated whether EQClinic helped students be aware of their non-verbal behaviour and improve their communication skills, and evaluated the usability of the platform. Students received automated feedback, and SP and tutor evaluations, and then completed self-assessment and reflection questionnaires. RESULTS: Eight medical students and three SPs conducted 13 tele-consultations using EQClinic. More students paid attention to their non-verbal communication and students who were engaged in two consultations felt more confident in their second consultation. Students rated the system positively, felt comfortable using it (5.9/7), and reported that the structure (5.4/7) and information (5.8/7) were clear. This pilot provides evidence that EQClinic helps, and positively influences, medical students practise their communication skills with SPs using a tele-conference platform. DISCUSSION: It is not easy to improve non-verbal communication skills in a short time period. Further evaluation of EQClinic with larger numbers will ascertain learning gains and application in health professional training. Developing a standard model for the assessment of non-verbal behaviour in tele-consultations and providing students with more valuable evaluation and suggestions are part of our future work.
Date Issued
2016-07-29
Date Acceptance
2016-07-08
Citation
Medical Education Online, 2016, 21
ISSN
1087-2981
Publisher
Co-Action Publishing
Journal / Book Title
Medical Education Online
Volume
21
Copyright Statement
© 2016 Chunfeng Liu et al. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), allowing third parties to copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format and toremix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially, provided the original work is properly cited and states its license.
Identifier
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27476537
PII: 31801
Subjects
automated feedback
communication skills training
medical education
non-verbal behaviour recognition
non-verbal communication
tele-consultation
Communication
Education, Medical, Undergraduate
Female
Formative Feedback
Humans
Male
Patient Simulation
Physician-Patient Relations
Pilot Projects
Remote Consultation
Publication Status
Published
Coverage Spatial
United States
Article Number
ARTN 31801
Date Publish Online
2016-07-29