Effect of a Single-Session Communication Skills Training on Empathy in Medical Students.

OBJECTIVE: Empathy scores have been found to decline over the years spent in medical school. The authors aimed to evaluate the change in empathy levels in medical students following a single-session communication skills training. METHODS: Eighty-two second-year medical students were randomized into intervention and control groups. The intervention comprised of a single-session empathetic communication skills training using PowerPoint, video clips, and roleplay. Empathy was assessed using the Jefferson Scale of Empathy-Student version (JSE) at baseline, post-intervention (for the intervention group), and at follow up after 3 weeks. RESULTS: The mean JSE score of the intervention group was 109.7 ± 11.8 at baseline, with significant improvement post-intervention (114.2 ± 10.6, p = 0.014). However, the score declined at the 3-week follow-up (106.8 ± 11.8). The mean baseline JSE score of the control group was 107.5 ± 12.4, with a decline at follow-up (101.8 ± 16.0). Though both groups showed a decline in the JSE score at follow-up, the decline was significant only for the control group (p = 0.020), which did not receive the training. CONCLUSIONS: The study showed significant improvement immediately, and lower decline at follow-up, in empathy levels following a communication skills training. The findings suggest a need to incorporate a regular training program into the existing medical curriculum, to enhance empathy and prevent its decline over the years.

Motivation to change and factors influencing motivation in alcohol dependence syndrome in a tertiary care hospital.

CONTEXT: Motivation plays an important role in the treatment of alcohol dependence syndrome (ADS) by influencing the patient to seek and comply with treatment as well as make successful long term changes. AIM: The aim of this study is to study the motivation for change in inpatients with ADS. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: One hundred consecutive patients admitted for the treatment of ADS in a medical college hospital were evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The International Classification of Disease 10th Revision - AM symptom checklist for mental disorders screener and appropriate modules were used to establish ADS. The assessment of motivation was done using the University of Rhode Island Change Assessment scale at baseline and after 2 weeks of admission. The Severity of Alcohol Dependence Questionnaire and Kuppuswamy's scale for socioeconomic status were used. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Paired and unpaired t-test, Fisher's exact test, and Wilcoxon signed-rank test were used to analyze data. RESULTS: The assessment of motivation showed 60% of patients in precontemplation (PC) stage at baseline, compared to 34% of the patients in PC, 57% in contemplation, and 9% in action stage after 2 weeks of inpatient stay. A highly significant change was seen in the levels of motivation toward contemplation and action stage after 2 weeks of inpatient stay (Z = 5.745, P < 0.001). Motivation to change had a significant association with complications of alcohol use, medical comorbidity, onset and severity of alcohol dependence, socioeconomic status, religion, and mode of referral. CONCLUSIONS: The study concludes that certain patients with ADS may have low pretreatment levels of motivation, with significant improvement in the motivation levels after a short duration of inpatient treatment.