Development of Medical Students’ Communication Skills for HIV Pre-Test Counseling at Prenatal Care

Abstract:

Introduction:

The Brazilian National Curriculum Guidelines for medical undergraduate courses underscore the emphasis on communication skills for recently graduated professionals. Promoting the development of effective communication skills for clinical competence poses a challenge for medical education. The present study aims to contribute to the development of communication skills during medical education through a teaching and learning strategy that uses prenatal HIV pretest counseling as a tool.

Methods:

This is a study with sequential mixed methods and qualitative approach developed in three phases. In the first phase, thirty students from the Tocho-Gynecology Internship participated in a simulated consultation, which was recorded in audio and video, directed to specific knowledge and skills for effective communication in the topic. In the second phase, an individual feedback strategy included the joint analysis of the video and the evaluation of established criteria in a specific checklist. In the third phase, the objective was to evaluate the students’ self-perception about their participation in the strategy and their need to develop communication skills during medical training.

Results:

The general analysis of the data reveals a poor performance, especially regarding the specific knowledge required for effective communication for prenatal HIV pretest counseling.

Conclusion:

Therefore, the students’ self-perception was consistent with the observed results and indicated the need to improve specific knowledge combined with communication skills, so as to allow appropriate counseling. Moreover, the students’ discourses frequently disclose reflective comments about the importance of practicing and developing communication skills.

Key-words:
Professionalism; Clinical Competence; Prenatal Care; HIV Seropositivity