Addressing Communication Skill Deficits in Fourth-Year Medical Students: An Intensive Remediation Curriculum

Abstract

Communication skills can be taught and learned, and are assessed as part of the standard medical school curriculum. At West Virginia University, fourth-year medical students are required to pass the Clinical Performance Exam (CPX), in which students demonstrate clinical skills with simulated patients. A remediation curriculum has been instituted to facilitate experiential and didactic learning in provider-patient communication for students failing the Relationship/Communications section of the CPX. Thus far, the three students who have completed this intense curriculum have subsequently passed the CPX and successfully matriculated. Students report that the experiential component of the remediation has been the most effective learning tool. This curriculum has gained such credibility that the authors have been charged with adapting the course components to allow for inclusion of more students. Future direction of the curriculum is discussed.