Peer led training in communication skills
BMJ 2008; 336 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/sbmj.0803114 (Published 01 March 2008) Cite this as: BMJ 2008;336:0803114
- Saman Saidi, fifth year medical student1,
- Alison Lievesley, fifth year medical student1,
- Michelle Lee, fifth year medical student1,
- Louise Gent, fifth year medical student1,
- Richard Lin, fifth year medical student1,
- Laura Jones, fifth year medical student1
- 1Kings College London
Despite recent changes to the medical curriculum there are still regular reports in the media that criticise the bedside manner and communication skills of doctors and medical students.12 These shortcomings may also be the reason for official complaints and legal action against doctors.3 So, without looking for someone to blame for this continuing trend, what can be done to improve the communication skills of tomorrow's doctors? Perhaps a student led scheme at Lewisham Hospital offers an answer.
In 2004 a young psychiatrist, Dr Sarah Stringer, inspired by her undergraduate training in communication skills at Cambridge University's Anatomy B course, decided to implement an arrangement for informal feedback to her psychiatry teaching, with the intention of improving student doctors' communication skills as well as preparing them for their upcoming objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs; box 1).
Box 1: What is the OSCE?
The objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) is the medical practical skills exam, consisting of numerous time limited clinical situations, where the student's basic knowledge of …
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