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Psychosocial and cultural barriers to communication skills learning in a South East Asian medical school
Citation
Foong, ALS and Sow, CF, Psychosocial and cultural barriers to communication skills learning in a South East Asian medical school, Journal of Higher Education Theory and Practice, 20, (4) pp. 152-163. ISSN 2158-3595 (2020) [Refereed Article]
Copyright Statement
Copyright 2020 North American Business Press
DOI: doi:10.33423/jhetp.v20i4.2993
Abstract
With continuing reports of poor communication skills, this study set out to explore reasons as to why
medical undergraduates in a medical school should have difficulties with communication skills learning
for competent professional practice of international standards. Volunteers were recruited from third year
undergraduate medical students to participate in focus group interviews to provide feedback on their
experiences with communication skills learning. Six different groups were set up before saturation point
was reached, with each group comprising of between six to eight participants. Qualitative analysis of
data by coding and categorization threw up a range of insights into the students' challenges with
communication skills learning. Two primary areas explored comprised of barriers to communication
skills learning and how lecturers could help students improve communication skills learning. The findings
highlight participants' acknowledgement of the issue of communication skills to be a problem. They
presented a range of insights into the psychosocial and cultural perspectives that were barriers to their
learning. Various teaching and learning factors were highlighted as reasons for challenges to the
learning of communication skills. They could serve as guidance for educators and education managers to
take on board for enhancing communication skills learning and as indicators for further studies.
Item Details
Item Type: | Refereed Article |
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Keywords: | teaching, learning, medical students, communication skills, cultural, psychosocial, barriers |
Research Division: | Health Sciences |
Research Group: | Health services and systems |
Research Field: | Health services and systems not elsewhere classified |
Objective Division: | Culture and Society |
Objective Group: | Communication |
Objective Field: | Communication not elsewhere classified |
UTAS Author: | Foong, ALS (Dr Andrew Foong) |
ID Code: | 141079 |
Year Published: | 2020 |
Deposited By: | Nursing |
Deposited On: | 2020-09-23 |
Last Modified: | 2020-10-19 |
Downloads: | 0 |
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