PEDIATRIC TRAINEES SELF-PERCEPTION OF PERSONALITY TRAITS AND INTERVIEWING SKILLS

Abstract

Improving interview skills is one goal of ped training. We hypothesized that videotape recorded interviews would allow trainees to realistically assess their own style and skill. This study evaluated accuracy and change in interns self-perception following individually precepted videotaped clinic visits over a 6 week period Self-perception was measured by a self-administered scale consisting of 8 personality traits and 10 interviewing skills identified by polar opposites of each dimension. All interns completed the scale prior to the initial (time 1), and after the last (time 2), precepted session. At time 2, the faculty preceptor assessed the intern using the same scale. Data were available on 16 consecutive trainees. Interns' self-evaluation at time 1 and 2 were compared by an analysis of variance (ANOVA). Significant change in self-perception was noted for the 8 personality traits (p<.01) but not the interviewing skills. Preceptors' evaluation was significantly less favorable than trainees' self-evaluation at time 2 along one personality dimension (formal vs. playful, p<.05) and 4 interviewing skills (maintaining vs. shifting focus, p<.01; clarifying history vs. not, p<.01; use of transition statements vs. not, p<.05; and empathic vs. not p<.05). 5 interns indicating least change in self-perception were most discrepant with preceptors' evaluation. We postulate that this combination indicates little benefit from the training experience. We conclude that videotape recorded interviews improve accuracy of self-assessment in most trainees.