Authors
- Harutaya Kasyanan
- Yaowalak Khomnuan
Institution
- Buddhachinaraj Medical Education Center - Medicine - Phitsanulok - Thailand
- Buddhachinaraj Medical Education Center - Pediatric Surgery - Phitsanulok - Thailand
Observation skill is essential for medical education. Learners with good observation skill can see a situation more clearly and less of biases. This paper aimed to assess observational ability of medical student in an unavoidable difficult situation for most physicians, breaking bad news.
Sixty fifth year medical students were assigned to closely observe medical staff or residents while breaking bad news. Instructed record form composed of; 1) nonverbal communication, 2) doctor-patient relationship and 3) ability to see patient as a person were filled. Group discussion was conducted, teacher worked as a facilitator to encourage perspective sharing.
To build up observational ability, observation activities should be provides regularly to deepen and refine the skill.
Among 60 record forms, most of students (80%) mention about nonverbal language which discordant with verbal communication. Everyone could estimate the level of doctor-patient relationship. Less than half (35%) of students focus on doctor’s ability to see patient as a person. During group discussion all students could be good listener and actively shared their different viewpoint with respect.
This observation activity gave students an opportunity to practice observation skill and accompanying skill in observation such as; description, interpretation, and reflection skills. This activity encourages learners to see the stressful situation objectively, as good observer. However, breaking bad news might too complicated for students to be not judgmental. Thus, self-awareness on one’s own bias or ability to distinguish fact from thought, which is the innermost outcome of observation competency, was not achieved.