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Table 1 Barriers to teaching/learning communicative skills in Spanish medical schools

From: Barriers to teaching communication skills in Spanish medical schools: a qualitative study with academic leaders

Negative attitudes of teachers and academic leaders (as a result of opinions such as...)

(23 comments)

CS are not practically used

The material used to teach CS is not scientific

CS are innate skills

CS cannot be taught

The introduction of CS training threatens both teachers’ subjects and their own academic statuses

Marginal presence in the curriculum: organisation and structure

(30 comments)

CS training is incorporated as a theoretical subject in an ad hoc style during preclinical periods

CS training is incorporated in a fragmented way (in different subjects)

CS training is included in subjects with other non-clinical content (humanities, ethics, history of medicine, psychology)

There is no transversal structure with coherent teaching aims

Negative student attitudes (as a result of opinions such as...)

(11 comments)

Students do not understand the use of CS

CS training includes reductionist and scientific epistemological interpretations

CS training is not important because it is not assessed

CS training is not useful for the MIR (medical intern) exam

CS training is not important because it is of a marginal or secondary nature in the curriculum

CS are innate and subjective and cannot be learned

Limited and poorly trained teaching staff

(13 comments)

There are no teachers with an appropriate academic status

The clinicians use a weak or negative model

Teachers have no training in CS or teaching methods

Teaching and assessment methods needed

(21 comments)

Teachers do not use experience-based teaching methods

Experience-based methods are expensive

CS training requires more time

CS training requires continuity and the commitment of teaching staff

CS training requires a relatively sophisticated infrastructure

CS training requires complex assessment systems that are not necessarily well known