The effects of a community based interviewing skills training program on primary health care level doctors of Bangladesh

Abstract

Background: The ability to communicate with a patient effectively has been described not only as a artistic aspect of clinical care but also as a central clinical function that cannot be ignored. Communication problem in medical practice is very common in Bangladesh. Objective: To develop and conduct a short term training program on interviewing skills among the primary health care level doctors of Rajshahi district with a view to evaluate its effects on doctors' interviewing skills. Methods: This study was conducted among the primary health care level government doctors of Rajshahi district at Puthia Upazila health Complex. All the doctors working at the 9 Upazilas of Rajshahi district constituted the study population. Total 36 participants were selected by stratified random sampling. This course was scheduled over 5 sessions of 25 hours, 5 hours in each day for 5 days. The effectiveness of this training program was evaluated by analyses of the pre and post assessments of participants' behaviors / techniques of interview and also by analyzing participants' self-assessment of the program. Data were analyzed by computer using SPPS 16.0. Paired t test was applied to find out any significance difference between the pre and post assessment score of the participants' performance. Results: Overall mean score for the beginning, managing and ending of the interview were significantly improved from 2.30 ±1.11, 9.63±3.70 and 0.72±0.70 to 6.38±1.46, 22.63±2.46 and 4.36±0.54 due to this training. The grand total mean score of the interview was also significantly (p<0.000) improved from 12.72 + 4.60 to 32.91±4.67 after this training. Most (94.44%) of the participants strongly agreed that this type of teaching course should be included in the curriculum of undergraduate medical students. Conclusion: This type of short training program may be one of the best ways to develop communication skills of the present and future doctors.