Shaping effective communication skills in first-year medical students through community diagnosis exercise

OBJECTIVE: The current study aimed to evaluate the impact of students' participation in this community diagnosis (CD) exercise on their competency development. Methods: The CD was performed by 235 first-year students through a home visit to obtain health data through questionnaire and physical examination; the data was analysed using the IBM® SPSS® version 24 statistical analysis software. The impact of CD participation on student skills development was evaluated using a cross - sectional questionnaire - based survey using the Likert five - point scale to assess student attitudes. RESULTS: CD exercise was performed by 235 first-year students by collecting data from 373 community residents. Subsequently, survey on effect of CD exercise on student competency responses were collected from 47 students (20%) of the 235 CD participants; the results showed that most agreed that CD enhanced their competence as physicians in all areas. The highest mean (SD) Likert scale score was recorded for the statement, 'CD enhanced effective communication' (4.47 ± 0.747). A total of 44 (93.6%) respondents supported the continuation of CD, claiming that the activity is a forum through which students can practice interacting with patients. CONCLUSIONS: The survey found that effective communication is the skill most established by involvement in CD, and the activity provides a good base for students' self-development as professional physicians.