Evidence based management of acute bronchitis; sustained competence of enhanced communication skills acquisition in general practice.

OBJECTIVE

To determine if a communication skills training program for general practitioners involving context-rich learning experiences and 'peer review' of consultation transcripts results in communication skills acquisition and maintenance, while preserving time-efficiency in consultations.

METHODS

A pre-test-post-test evaluation of training 20 general practitioners (GPs) in enhanced communication skills. Audio taped consultations with simulated patients in routine practice conducted before, within 2 weeks and again 6 months after communication skills training were analysed and consultation length measured. Transcripts were scored for specific skills to determine differences in short and longer-term competence of GPs for the communication skills.

RESULTS

There was good evidence that GPs acquired key communication skills after training and that these were maintained over 6 months. Consultations remained within normal consultation length in primary care.

CONCLUSION

Specific communication skills for acute bronchitis can be successfully acquired by GPs through context-rich communication training with peer review of transcripts with simulated patients, without making consultation length unfeasible.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

This approach to skill acquisition is useful for enhancing communication skills competence in general medical practice.