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Communication Skills and Undergraduate Psychiatry: A Description of an Innovative Approach to Prepare Australian Medical Students for Their Clinical Psychiatry Attachment

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Abstract

Objective

To address the increasing diversity in the linguistic and ethnic backgrounds of medical students at the University of Melbourne, a program was developed to prepare students for the particular challenges in cultural literacy and idiomatic English language proficiency, especially when exploring sensitive areas of patients’ personal history. The authors outline the University of Melbourne program and present two case studies.

Results

Post hoc confidential survey of students’ appraisals of the program is presented.

Conclusion

The survey found a high level of acceptance and approval among most students.

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References

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry, and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

    Jeremy Couper M.B.B.S.,  Lesleyanne Hawthorne Ph.D.,  Graeme Hawthorne Ph.D.,  Eng-Seong Tan M.D. &  Alan Roberts B.A.

Authors
  1. Jeremy Couper M.B.B.S.
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  2. Lesleyanne Hawthorne Ph.D.
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  3. Graeme Hawthorne Ph.D.
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  4. Eng-Seong Tan M.D.
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  5. Alan Roberts B.A.
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jeremy Couper M.B.B.S..

Additional information

The authors thank Wilma Beswick, Jacqueline Walters, and Bruce Singh in developing and expanding this teaching initiative at The University of Melbourne and its affiliated Clinical Schools.

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Couper, J., Hawthorne, L., Hawthorne, G. et al. Communication Skills and Undergraduate Psychiatry: A Description of an Innovative Approach to Prepare Australian Medical Students for Their Clinical Psychiatry Attachment. Acad Psychiatry 29, 297–300 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ap.29.3.297

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ap.29.3.297

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