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Table 5 Skills the students felt they had learnt during the consultation skills sessions

From: Cross-sectional evaluation of a longitudinal consultation skills course at a new UK medical school

All Years

How to structure the consultation.

All Years

Importance of patient-centredness.

All Years

Aspects of professionalism (including recognising own limits, being prepared, generally acting professionally).

All Years

Avoiding jargon.

All Years

Becoming more reflective.

Year 1

Importance of open and closed questions.

Year 1

Appropriate use of language and non-verbal communication.

Year 1

How to cope with emotions (both patients' and their own), and how to deal with stress.

Year 2, 3 & 4

Checking the patient's understanding.

Year 2, 3 & 4

Giving appropriate information with respect to both amount and type.

Year 2, 3, 4 & 5

Integration of process and content.

Year 2, 3, 4 & 5

Giving and receiving feedback.

Year 3

Shared decision making.

Year 4

How to communicate risk.

Year 4

Not pre-judge patients or use stereotypes.

Year 4

How to consult with teenagers.

Year 4

How to consult with children and their parents. Knowing the right type of question to ask.

Year 4 & 5

Shared decision making - balancing the doctor's and the patient's agenda.

Year 4 & 5

How to deal with three people in a consultation (triadic consultations).

Year 4 & 5

Appropriate use of language and non-verbal behaviour within the context of the specific areas they were covering during their sessions.

Year 4 & 5

How to cope with their patient's emotions and reactions, including breaking bad news.

Year 5

How to consult with patients with mental health problems.