Project Objectives

The project objective was to produce eLearning material to facilitate clinical communication skills and inter professional communication. Scope of learning includes communication models, consultation models, patient competency, consent, confidentiality and sensitive information, breaking bad news and adverse events in the form of frameworks, clinical experiences and video vignettes to mimic authentic consultations. The aim was to equip students with the knowledge and skills for various potentially challenging consultations (in Cantonese).

Description of process, outcomes or deliverables

The process consisted of an expert committee, stocktaking, student surveys and interviews to devise curriculum design. This took place alongside extensive literature review of clinical communication models and resources and the production of content and video vignettes of doctors, patients, nurses, students and allied health in achieving the scope outlined.

Meanwhile, surrogate training and a standardized communication rating tool was devised for training and examination purposes. All will be integrated into the medical course in the clinical years in 2016–17.

Evaluation

Various components of the course have been evaluated by an expert panel and students. Meanwhile, communication assessment tools has been evaluated and adopted by clinical tutors and surrogate patients. Full evaluation of the course and outcomes are forthcoming.

Dissemination, diffusion and impact

Presentations were given at the Asia Pacific Medical Education Conference and International Medical Education Conference (Awarded best poster). Meanwhile, the e-learning material is adaptable for other health professionals or other undergraduate or postgraduate training. The platform also has the potential to propagate a library of video consultations.