TY - JOUR
T1 - Assessing communications competencies through reviews of client interactions and comprehensive rotation assessment
T2 - A comparison of methods
AU - Root Kustritz, Margaret V
AU - Lowum, Susan E
AU - Flynn, Kristi
AU - Fairbairn, Heather
AU - Diesch-Chham, Athena
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2017 AAVMC.
PY - 2017/6/1
Y1 - 2017/6/1
N2 - The primary purpose of this study was to compare two methods for assessing student communication skills: A labor-intensive review of video-recorded interactions and global communications assessment using a comprehensive rotation-Assessment tool. Secondary goals of the study were to evaluate student strengths and weaknesses to inform the pre-clinical communications curriculum and to evaluate for consistency between types of reviewers. Video recordings of 43 student encounters with clients presenting their animals for wellness or diagnostic appointments to the primary care service at a veterinary teaching hospital were reviewed by one of three primary care clinicians, a social worker, and a clinical communications instructor, using a common rubric. Scores using the rubric were compared with overall scores for verbal communications on a comprehensive rotation-Assessment tool, both for the primary care rotation and for other small-Animal rotations. Duration did not vary significantly between wellness and diagnostic appointments, or between dog and cat appointments. Scores achieved by students on video review varied by evaluator, with the clinical communications instructor scoring students the lowest and the social worker scoring students the highest. Strengths identified included greeting the client appropriately, gathering initial information about the reason for the visit, and using lay terminology appropriately. Weaknesses included summarizing information for the client, talking to clients about money, and making strong recommendations.
AB - The primary purpose of this study was to compare two methods for assessing student communication skills: A labor-intensive review of video-recorded interactions and global communications assessment using a comprehensive rotation-Assessment tool. Secondary goals of the study were to evaluate student strengths and weaknesses to inform the pre-clinical communications curriculum and to evaluate for consistency between types of reviewers. Video recordings of 43 student encounters with clients presenting their animals for wellness or diagnostic appointments to the primary care service at a veterinary teaching hospital were reviewed by one of three primary care clinicians, a social worker, and a clinical communications instructor, using a common rubric. Scores using the rubric were compared with overall scores for verbal communications on a comprehensive rotation-Assessment tool, both for the primary care rotation and for other small-Animal rotations. Duration did not vary significantly between wellness and diagnostic appointments, or between dog and cat appointments. Scores achieved by students on video review varied by evaluator, with the clinical communications instructor scoring students the lowest and the social worker scoring students the highest. Strengths identified included greeting the client appropriately, gathering initial information about the reason for the visit, and using lay terminology appropriately. Weaknesses included summarizing information for the client, talking to clients about money, and making strong recommendations.
KW - Assessment
KW - Communications
KW - Competency
KW - Education
KW - Veterinary
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85024499711&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85024499711&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3138/jvme.1116-184R
DO - 10.3138/jvme.1116-184R
M3 - Article
C2 - 28375071
AN - SCOPUS:85024499711
SN - 0748-321X
VL - 44
SP - 290
EP - 301
JO - Journal of veterinary medical education
JF - Journal of veterinary medical education
IS - 2
ER -