gms | German Medical Science

Gemeinsame Jahrestagung der Gesellschaft für Medizinische Ausbildung (GMA), des Arbeitskreises zur Weiterentwicklung der Lehre in der Zahnmedizin (AKWLZ) und der Chirurgischen Arbeitsgemeinschaft Lehre (CAL)

25.09. - 28.09.2019, Frankfurt am Main

A nationwide qualification program for peer tutors in training of communication skills

Meeting Abstract

  • presenting/speaker Louisa Hecht - Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen Nürnberg, Allgemeinmedizinisches Institut, Erlangen, Deutschland
  • Erika Fellmer-Drüg - IMPP, Deutschland
  • Nicole Deis - IMPP, Deutschland
  • Jana Jünger - IMPP, Deutschland

Gemeinsame Jahrestagung der Gesellschaft für Medizinische Ausbildung (GMA), des Arbeitskreises zur Weiterentwicklung der Lehre in der Zahnmedizin (AKWLZ) und der Chirurgischen Arbeitsgemeinschaft Lehre (CAL). Frankfurt am Main, 25.-28.09.2019. Düsseldorf: German Medical Science GMS Publishing House; 2019. DocV2-08

doi: 10.3205/19gma016, urn:nbn:de:0183-19gma0166

Published: September 20, 2019

© 2019 Hecht et al.
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License. See license information at http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.


Outline

Text

Background: As the role of education in communication for medical students increases in recent times, educational services of trainings in this field equally do. Faculties have come out with communication courses in many different ways. Several of these services are based on peer-teaching. However, they differ in quality leading to heterogeneous communication skills amongst the graduates. To counter this issue a multifaceted communication training had been designed in 2015 by the Institute for Medical and Pharmaceutical Exam Items (IMPP), addressing the role of student tutors within the field of education in communication. The aim of this initiative is a national standardized qualification of student tutors for medical communication in content and didactics on a high quality level.

Summary of work: Each year, about 20 tutors receive training within two three-day sessions by an experienced and multidisciplinary team of experts. The program consists of two basic units with lectures in didactics of medicine, fundamentals of communication, group-leading and doctor-patient communication skills. Overall, since the program has started, nine faculties in Germany served as cooperating hosts to perform these trainings. Additionally, graduates get the opportunity to sign up for a continuing qualification program to learn more about e.g. interprofessional communication and cooperation. In the end, the learning process will be evaluated by observations in peer tutor lessons, local supervision sessions and portfolio works of the students. In total, 200 class lessons are necessary to receive the national certificate.

Summary of results: To picture a clear and profound impression of the project, we are not only characterizing the idea and realization of the concept but also performing a critical SWOT analysis of the qualification program. To gain a supplementary glimpse in the student perspective, we compile the main results of the participants’ evaluation. A brief initial review already shows a highly positive response to the training.

Discussion and conclusions: Many valuable experiences have been gathered throughout the course of the program. Pointing out the strengths and limitations of the program, as well as its threats and opportunities amidst current developments, can encourage similar upcoming ideas.

Take home messages: We would like to convey how to combine the resources of student tutorials with a high level education.