Attitudes toward learning communication skills among Iranian medical students

Abstract Background Attitudes determine behavior, and alterations in attitude may result in behavioral changes. Medical students would benefit from learning communication skills. This study aimed to determine the attitude of medical students toward the importance of learning communication skills and...

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Main Authors: Naser Yousefzadeh Kandevani, Ali Labaf, Azim Mirzazadeh, Pegah Salimi Pormehr
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2024-02-01
Series:BMC Medical Education
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-024-05140-8
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author Naser Yousefzadeh Kandevani
Ali Labaf
Azim Mirzazadeh
Pegah Salimi Pormehr
author_facet Naser Yousefzadeh Kandevani
Ali Labaf
Azim Mirzazadeh
Pegah Salimi Pormehr
author_sort Naser Yousefzadeh Kandevani
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Attitudes determine behavior, and alterations in attitude may result in behavioral changes. Medical students would benefit from learning communication skills. This study aimed to determine the attitude of medical students toward the importance of learning communication skills and the training courses and their role in contributing. Methods In this cross-sectional study, 442 medical students from three different levels of medical training were enrolled. Students in the first 4 years of the medical program were classified as basic sciences and physiopathology students, those in the fifth and sixth years were classified as clerkship students, and those in the last three terms of medical training were classified as interns. The attitude among these three groups was assessed by the Communication Skills Attitude Scale (CSAS) questionnaire, and the contributing factors were determined. Results The mean total points for attitude in positive and negative aspects were 50.7 and 30.9, respectively showing a positive attitude toward communication skills among medical students. The median scores of the scales Important in Medical Content, Excuse, Learning, and Overconfidence varied significantly from highest to lowest, respectively. Gender, educational level, ethnic origin, language, family burden, paternal literacy, history of presence in communication skills courses, self-report from communication skills, and need to further learning in this era showed significant association with attitude (P < 0.05). Conclusions It may be concluded that generally, medical students have a positive attitude toward communication skills, and this perspective is a multi-factorial entity that programming according to the various related factors would help to attainment of additional communication capabilities among medical students.
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spelling doaj.art-fed6095ccbee44c3820ae7ca575b0cb82024-03-05T19:26:08ZengBMCBMC Medical Education1472-69202024-02-012411910.1186/s12909-024-05140-8Attitudes toward learning communication skills among Iranian medical studentsNaser Yousefzadeh Kandevani0Ali Labaf1Azim Mirzazadeh2Pegah Salimi Pormehr3Yas Hospital Complex, Tehran University of Medical SciencesImam Khomeini Hospital Complex, Tehran University of Medical SciencesDepartment of Medicine, Department of Medical Education, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical SciencesYas Hospital Complex, Tehran University of Medical SciencesAbstract Background Attitudes determine behavior, and alterations in attitude may result in behavioral changes. Medical students would benefit from learning communication skills. This study aimed to determine the attitude of medical students toward the importance of learning communication skills and the training courses and their role in contributing. Methods In this cross-sectional study, 442 medical students from three different levels of medical training were enrolled. Students in the first 4 years of the medical program were classified as basic sciences and physiopathology students, those in the fifth and sixth years were classified as clerkship students, and those in the last three terms of medical training were classified as interns. The attitude among these three groups was assessed by the Communication Skills Attitude Scale (CSAS) questionnaire, and the contributing factors were determined. Results The mean total points for attitude in positive and negative aspects were 50.7 and 30.9, respectively showing a positive attitude toward communication skills among medical students. The median scores of the scales Important in Medical Content, Excuse, Learning, and Overconfidence varied significantly from highest to lowest, respectively. Gender, educational level, ethnic origin, language, family burden, paternal literacy, history of presence in communication skills courses, self-report from communication skills, and need to further learning in this era showed significant association with attitude (P < 0.05). Conclusions It may be concluded that generally, medical students have a positive attitude toward communication skills, and this perspective is a multi-factorial entity that programming according to the various related factors would help to attainment of additional communication capabilities among medical students.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-024-05140-8Communication skillsMedical studentsAttitude
spellingShingle Naser Yousefzadeh Kandevani
Ali Labaf
Azim Mirzazadeh
Pegah Salimi Pormehr
Attitudes toward learning communication skills among Iranian medical students
BMC Medical Education
Communication skills
Medical students
Attitude
title Attitudes toward learning communication skills among Iranian medical students
title_full Attitudes toward learning communication skills among Iranian medical students
title_fullStr Attitudes toward learning communication skills among Iranian medical students
title_full_unstemmed Attitudes toward learning communication skills among Iranian medical students
title_short Attitudes toward learning communication skills among Iranian medical students
title_sort attitudes toward learning communication skills among iranian medical students
topic Communication skills
Medical students
Attitude
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-024-05140-8
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