Research Article: Communication Skills of Medical Students during the OSCE - Gender-specific Differences in a Longitudinal Trend Study

Lead author: Joachim Graf
Submitted by: Todd Lash, Publications Committee Chair

The aim of this study was to analyze gender differences in communication skills of medical students in the context of an OSCE exam. A longitudinal trend study based on seven semester-cohorts, was analyzed to determine gender differences in medical students’ communication skills. The students (self-perception) and standardized patients (SP) (external perception) rated the communication skills using uniform questionnaires. Statistical analysis was performed by using frequency analyses and t-tests. Across all ratings in the self- and the external perception, there was a significant gender difference that favored female students performing better in the dimensions of empathy, structure, verbal expression and non-verbal expression. The results of male students deteriorated across all dimensions in the external perception over time. Recommendations were made regarding gender-specific teaching that considered the reported differences between female and male students. Read the full article in BioMed Central Medical Educationhere.

Publications Committee Mission: “To bring high quality reporting of current research, trends, techniques and information regarding SP methodology and other relevant industry articles to the attention of the membership through the web-based ASPE eNews blog.”

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