Language background, English language proficiency and medical communication skills of medical students

Abstract

Associations between language background, English language proficiency and medical communication skills were investigated in a group of 149 third year undergraduate medical students studying at an Australian university. Written and aural English proficiency were assessed with the Screening Test for Adolescent Language (STAL). Medical communication skills and the fluency of spoken language were scored during an Observed Structured Clinical Interview (OSCI), rated by a standardized patient and a clinician. An association was found between language background, performance on the STAL and spoken language proficiency. Satisfactory performance in medical communication skills was not associated with language background or overall performance on the STAL. In this study it was the global rating of unsatisfactory spoken language fluency that was associated with poorer performance in medical communication skills under examination conditions.

Evaluating the outcome of communication skill teaching for entry-level medical students: does knowledge of empathy increase?

“…The teaching skills of the workshop tutors, or the cultural or language backgrounds of the students, are other factors which might influence the variations in skill development by the students. Previous research 18 suggests that students with English speaking backgrounds are not necessarily more able to demonstrate empathy than are other students.…”

Predictors of academic performance of medical undergraduate students of microbiology class in Kolkata

“…In literature, it is reported that in undergraduate/graduate studies, students from English medium schools perform better than non English medium students. [13] Educational outcomes of urban students are also better than the rural students. [14] As students who are day scholars are mostly from Kolkata and nearby urban areas, they are more likely to have come from English medium schools, which explain their better performance compared to students with hostel aid.…”

Factors associated with performance of second year student in pharmacology examinations

“…In a study done by Chur-Hansen et al, in 149 third-year medical students, it was observed that poor knowledge of English language was associated with poor performance in examination. [9] In a study done by Surya Raj Niraula et al, for 86 medical students of Nepal, it was observed that medium of schooling was associated with the high school marks, but it has no effect on marks obtained in any MBBS level. [10]…”