Skills in clinical communication: teaching-learning experience in a pediatric residence

Abstract

Health communication is an essential medical activity for quality clinical practice. The ability to communicate properly is a professional competence that can and should be learned. The objectiveofthisworkistodescribetheexperiences of teaching, learning and evaluation of effective communication skills in pediatric residents and specifically, to report its design and curricular integration to the academic program, as well as the characteristics of its implementation. The program was structured in modules per year of residence, with sequential contents of increasing complexity; it was implemented through interactive meetings, reflection groups and high-fidelity simulation scenarios. The structured and objective clinical examination was used for performance evaluations through stationsdesignedaccordingtolearningobjectives with actors and a standardized scale. This implementation model could be replicated to other pediatric residencies through an Effective Communication Teaching Program.