Perceived communication skills and barriers among family medicine trainees and effectiveness of a communication workshop in Malaysia: A cross-sectional observational study with pre-post comparisons

Abstract

Abstract Introduction: Effective communication skills are an integral part of healthcare provision, as they involve patient safety issues and shared decision-making. This study aimed to assess the perception of family medicine trainees (FMTs) about their communication skills and evaluate the effectiveness of a 2-day communication workshop in improving these skills. Methods: This cross-sectional observational study examined FMTs undergoing postgraduate training. A self-administered, validated questionnaire was utilised to assess conflict when dealing with patients, components of effective communication and barriers to good communication. The questionnaire was administered before and 6 months after the communication workshop. Results: Of 384 participants, most were aged 25–34 years (73.7%), women (75.8%), Malay (52.1%) and employed by the Ministry of Health Malaysia (82.0%). Approximately 82.8% opined that ≥75% of conflicts can be avoided through good communication skills. Among the 81 participants who completed the questionnaire before and after the workshop, the mean scores significantly increased post-workshop (P<0.05) for the following components of effective communication: communication of information and education, communication in complex situations, delivery of bad news and communication as part of team dynamics. The major barrier to practising effective communication was a lack of time (82.1%), while only a quarter of the participants (26.9%) indicated a lack of insight as a barrier. Conclusion: Communication workshops can help improve different aspects of communication among FMTs in Malaysia.