Research article summary (published 30 Aug 2007):

Assessment of communication skills of surgical residents using the Social Skills Inventory.

Full Abstract

BACKGROUND: Interpersonal and communication skills are 1 of the 6 core competencies articulated as essential to resident education by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. The current study assessed verbal and nonverbal communication skills among surgical residents. METHODS: The communication skills of surgical residents (n = 64) were assessed using the Social Skills Inventory. RESULTS: The majority of surgical residents demonstrated strong verbal and nonverbal skills, although the equilibrium index scores demonstrated an imbalance in the social skill profile for a minority (17.2%) of residents. Post graduate year was positively related to social expressivity (r = .31, P < .01) and social control (r = .27, P < .01) skills. In some cases, being proficient in one social skill was actually negatively related to another. CONCLUSIONS: The Social Skills Inventory was found to be a useful instrument for the multidimensional assessment of resident communication skills. Areas of strengths and weaknesses were identified and could be used for targeting areas for future educational interventions.

Author information

Author/s: Horwitz, Irwin B (IB); Horwitz, Sujin K (SK); Brandt, Mary L (ML); Brunicardi, F Charles (FC); Scott, Bradford G (BG); Awad, Samir S (SS);

Affiliation: Department of Management, Policy and Community Health, University of Texas School of Public Health, 1200 Herman Pressler, Houston, TX 77030, USA. Irwin.Horwitz(-atsign-)uth.tmc.edu

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: American journal of surgery (Am J Surg), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2007-Sep; vol 194 (issue 3) : pp 401-5

Dates: Created 2007/08/13; Completed 2007/08/21; Revised 2009/05/20;

PMID: 17693291, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 5/20/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adult Communication Female General Surgery - education Humans

Humans Internship and Residency Male Professional Competence Questionnaires

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