Assessment of communication skills

Cees van der Vleuten*, Valerie van den Eertwegh, Esther Giroldi

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

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Abstract

Objective: This paper addresses how communication skills can best be assessed. Since assessment and learning are strongly connected, the way communication skills are best learned is also described.

Results: Communication skills are best learned in a longitudinal fashion with ample practice in an authentic setting. Confrontation of behavior initiates the learning process and should be supported by meaningful feedback through direct observation. When done appropriately a set of (learned) communication skills become integrated skilled communication, being versatilely used in purposeful goal-oriented clinical communication. The assessment of communication skills should follow a modern approach to assessment where the learning function of assessment is considered a priority. Individual assessments are feedback-oriented to promote further learning and development. The resulting rich information may be used to make progression decisions, usually in a group or committee decision.

Conclusion: This modern programmatic approach to assessment fits the learning of skilled communication well.

Practice implications: Implementation of a programmatic assessment approach to communication will entail a major innovation to education. (C) 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2110-2113
Number of pages4
JournalPatient Education and Counseling
Volume102
Issue number11
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Nov 2019
EventInternational Conference on Communication in Healthcare (ICCH) - Porto, Portugal
Duration: 1 Sept 20184 Sept 2018

Keywords

  • Communication
  • Assessment
  • Programmatic assessment
  • SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT
  • MEDICAL-STUDENTS
  • SELF-ASSESSMENT
  • 12 TIPS
  • FEEDBACK
  • RELIABILITY
  • PERFORMANCE
  • EDUCATION
  • CULTURE
  • PATIENT

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