Tools for assessing communication skills in Medical Science students: a systematic review

Abstract

Introduction: The enhancement of communication skills is of great importance for healthcare professionals, who, by exhibiting these skills, are perceived as more competent individuals; therefore, it is important to have validated tools to measure communication skills in medical science students. Objective: To describe the current state of research regarding measurement instruments for assessing communication skills in students of medical sciences. Methods: A systematic review was conducted using the 27-item checklist from the PRISMA 2020 statement. The search was carried out between September and December 2023, using PubMed and Google Scholar as search engines, with keywords in English and Spanish. A total of 132 articles were retrieved, which underwent a selection process leading to the development of the review. Results: The review included 10 articles that met the inclusion criteria. Three studies were conducted in the United States, and the rest in various countries, with 7 focusing on the field of Medicine. The dimensions varied among the studies; 4 used Likert scales and 4 used checklists. The validation of the studies indicated a low risk of bias for all of them. Conclusions: 10 instruments have been designed to measure communication skills in the field of medical education over the past 5 years, with a prevalence of studies in the United States and the field of Medicine. The majority of designs utilized Likert scales and checklists, encompassing multiple dimensions and showing a low risk of bias.

Keywords

• comunicación
• educación médica
• evaluación educacional
• habilidades sociales
• revisión sistemática.