{"id":1213,"date":"2020-08-06T11:42:26","date_gmt":"2020-08-06T03:42:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/medicine.nus.edu.sg\/taps\/?post_type=issues&#038;p=1213"},"modified":"2021-01-05T08:28:12","modified_gmt":"2021-01-05T00:28:12","slug":"can-an-online-clinical-communication-course-impact-learner-behaviour","status":"publish","type":"issues","link":"https:\/\/medicine.nus.edu.sg\/taps\/issues\/can-an-online-clinical-communication-course-impact-learner-behaviour\/","title":{"rendered":"Can an online clinical communication course impact learner behaviour?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span lang=\"EN-GB\">Submitted: 17 March 2020<br \/>\r\n<\/span><span lang=\"EN-GB\">Accepted: 3 April 2020<br \/>\r\n<\/span>Published online: 1 September, TAPS 2020, 5(3), <span lang=\"EN-GB\">83-87<\/span><br \/>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.29060\/TAPS.2020-5-3\/SC2238\">https:\/\/doi.org\/10.29060\/TAPS.2020-5-3\/SC2238<\/a><\/p>\r\n<p><span lang=\"EN-GB\">Cristelle Chow<sup>1<\/sup>, Cynthia Lim<sup>2<\/sup> &amp; Koh Cheng Thoon<sup>3<\/sup><\/span><sup><span lang=\"EN-GB\"><\/span><\/sup><\/p>\r\n<p><i><sup><span lang=\"EN-GB\">1<\/span><\/sup><\/i><i><span lang=\"EN-GB\">General Paediatrics Service, Department of Paediatrics, KK Women\u2019s and Children\u2019s Hospital, Singapore; <sup>2<\/sup>Nursing Clinical Services, KK Women\u2019s and Children\u2019s Hospital, Singapore; <sup>3<\/sup>Infectious Disease Service, Department of Paediatrics, KK Women\u2019s and Children\u2019s Hospital, Singapore<\/span><\/i><span lang=\"EN-GB\"><\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><strong>Abstract<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<div class=\"page\" title=\"Page 1\">\r\n<div class=\"layoutArea\">\r\n<div class=\"column\">\r\n<p><b><span lang=\"EN-GB\">Background:<\/span><\/b><span lang=\"EN-GB\"> Effective communication between doctors and patients leads to better compliance, health outcomes and higher doctor and patient satisfaction. Although in-person communication skills training programs are effective, they require high resource utilisation and may provide variable learner experiences due to challenges in standardisation. <\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><b><span lang=\"EN-GB\">Objective:<\/span><\/b><span lang=\"EN-GB\"> This study aimed to develop and implement an evidence-based, self-directed and interactive online communication skills training course to determine if the course would improve learner application of communication skills in real clinical encounters. <\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><b><span lang=\"EN-GB\">Methods:<\/span><\/b><span lang=\"EN-GB\"> The course design utilised the Kalamazoo Consensus framework and included videos based on common paediatric clinical scenarios. Final year medical students in academic year 2017\/2018 undergoing a two-week paediatric clerkship were divided into two groups. Both groups received standard clerkship educational experiences, but only the intervention group (88 out of 146 total students) was enrolled into the course. Caregiver\/patient feedback based on students\u2019 clinical communication was obtained, together with pre- and post-video scenario self-reported confidence levels and course feedback. <\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><b><span lang=\"EN-GB\">Results:<\/span><\/b><span lang=\"EN-GB\"> There were minimal differences in patient feedback between intervention and control groups, but the control group was more likely to confirm caregivers\u2019\/patients\u2019 agreement with management plans and provide a summary. However, caregivers\/patients tended to feel more comfortable with the intervention compared to the control group. Median confidence levels increased post-video scenarios and learners reported gains in knowledge, attitudes and skills in paediatric-specific communication. <\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><b><span lang=\"EN-GB\">Conclusion:<\/span><\/b><span lang=\"EN-GB\"> Although online video-based communication courses are useful standardisation teaching tools, complementation with on-the-job training is essential for learners to demonstrate effective communication.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><b><span lang=\"EN-GB\">Keywords<\/span><\/b><span lang=\"EN-GB\">:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><i><span lang=\"EN-GB\">Online Learning, Undergraduate Medicine, Professionalism, Communication Skills, Patient Feedback<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><strong>I. INTRODUCTION<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p><span lang=\"EN-GB\">Effective doctor-patient communication leads to better compliance, health outcomes and higher doctor and patient satisfaction. Online video-based communication skills courses can be feasible, with learners reporting increased confidence in key communication skills (Kemper, Foy, Wissow, &amp; Shore, 2008). However, these evaluation methods have been limited to the Kirkpatrick levels of \u201creaction\u201d and \u201clearning\u201d, instead of \u201cbehaviour\u201d and \u201cresults\u201d, which are more reflective of applied learning. <\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span lang=\"EN-GB\">While in-person communication skills training programs simulate clinical environments, they can have inconsistent delivery because facilitators and standardised patients provide variable training experiences. In order to replace traditional role-play sessions, this study aimed to develop and implement a pilot online communication skills course to provide standardised, video-based scenarios in a self-directed interactive learning format using an evidence-based framework. <\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span lang=\"EN-GB\">Our research questions are as follows: <\/span><\/p>\r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li><span lang=\"EN-GB\"><\/span><span lang=\"EN-GB\">Would an online communication course improve the application of communication skills in real clinical encounters? <\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li><span lang=\"EN-GB\"><\/span><span lang=\"EN-GB\">What is the impact of an online communication course on learner-rated confidence levels in paediatric-specific clinical communication encounters?<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li><span lang=\"EN-GB\"><\/span><span lang=\"EN-GB\">What are the self-reported aspects of learning that participants of an online communication course experience?<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><strong>II. METHODS<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p><span lang=\"EN-GB\">This course design utilised the Kalamazoo Consensus framework (Makoul, 2001) which included the essential elements of clinical communication: Open the discussion, gather information, understand patient\u2019s perspective, share information, reach agreement and provide closure.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span lang=\"EN-GB\">Through Bandura\u2019s social learning theory, people learn through observing others\u2019 behaviour. The attitudes and outcomes of those behaviours then guide subsequent actions. This course therefore utilised videos featuring positive doctor-caregiver interactions, to encourage modelling through observation. The 3-5-minute video scenarios acted by practicing healthcare professionals were based on commonly encountered general paediatric clinical situations.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span lang=\"EN-GB\">The course was designed using Articulate\u00a9 software. \u201cPop-up\u201d prompts highlighting important clinical or communication points, a pre- and post-test and in-video multiple-choice questions were included to increase learner engagement. To evaluate the impact of the course on learner-rated confidence levels, students were shown a clinical vignette, and asked to rate their self-confidence on a 4-point Likert scale before and after each video. Each video concluded with a summary, emphasising the utilisation of the Kalamazoo Consensus Framework.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<div align=\"center\">\r\n<table border=\"1\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td width=\"238\">\r\n<p><span lang=\"EN-GB\">Q1: Did the student introduce his\/ her name?<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td width=\"233\">\r\n<p><span lang=\"EN-GB\">Q2: Did the student allow you to express your concerns?<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td width=\"238\">\r\n<p><span lang=\"EN-US\">\u20dd<\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\"> Yes<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span lang=\"EN-US\">\u20dd<\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\"> No<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span lang=\"EN-US\">\u20dd<\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\"> Not sure<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td width=\"233\">\r\n<p><span lang=\"EN-US\">\u20dd<\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\"> Yes, ALL my concerns<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span lang=\"EN-US\">\u20dd<\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\"> Not really, only SOME of my concerns<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span lang=\"EN-US\">\u20dd<\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\"> No, NONE of my concerns<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td width=\"238\">\r\n<p><span lang=\"EN-US\">Q3: How much was the student interested in <u>your point of view<\/u> (e.g. expectations, ideas, beliefs, values) when he\/she was <b>asking you questions<\/b>?<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td width=\"233\">\r\n<p><span lang=\"EN-US\">Q4: How much was the student interested in <u>your point of view <\/u>(e.g. expectations, ideas, beliefs, values) when he\/she was<b> planning and explaining things<\/b>?<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td width=\"238\">\r\n<p><span lang=\"EN-US\">\u20dd<\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\"> Very interested<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span lang=\"EN-US\">\u20dd<\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\"> Somewhat interested<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span lang=\"EN-US\">\u20dd<\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\"> Somewhat uninterested<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span lang=\"EN-US\">\u20dd<\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\"> Not interested at all<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td width=\"233\">\r\n<p><span lang=\"EN-US\">\u20dd<\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\"> Very interested<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span lang=\"EN-US\">\u20dd<\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\"> Somewhat interested<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span lang=\"EN-US\">\u20dd<\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\"> Somewhat uninterested<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span lang=\"EN-US\">\u20dd<\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\"> Not interested at all<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td width=\"238\"><span lang=\"EN-US\"><br \/>\r\n<\/span>\r\n<p><span lang=\"EN-US\">Q5: Did you feel that the student <b>listened<\/b> to you?<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td width=\"233\">\r\n<p><span lang=\"EN-US\">Q6: How well do you feel the student <b>explained things<\/b> to you?<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td width=\"238\">\r\n<p><span lang=\"EN-US\">\u20dd<\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\"> Listened all the time<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span lang=\"EN-US\">\u20dd<\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\"> Listened sometimes<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span lang=\"EN-US\">\u20dd<\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\"> Did not listen at all<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td width=\"233\">\r\n<p><span lang=\"EN-US\">\u20dd<\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\"> Very well \u2013 I understood all the explanation<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span lang=\"EN-US\">\u20dd<\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\"> Fairly well \u2013 I understood some of the explanation<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span lang=\"EN-US\">\u20dd<\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\"> Not well at all \u2013 I did not understand all of the explanation<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td width=\"238\">\r\n<p><span lang=\"EN-US\">Q7: Did the student check if you were agreeable with the management plan?<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td width=\"233\">\r\n<p><span lang=\"EN-US\">Q8: Did the student provide a summary of the problem\/ plans at the end of the conversation?<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td width=\"238\">\r\n<p><span lang=\"EN-US\">\u20dd<\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\"> Yes<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span lang=\"EN-US\">\u20dd<\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\"> No<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span lang=\"EN-US\">\u20dd<\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\"> Not sure<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td width=\"233\">\r\n<p><span lang=\"EN-US\">\u20dd<\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\"> Yes<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span lang=\"EN-US\">\u20dd<\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\"> No<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span lang=\"EN-US\">\u20dd<\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\"> Not sure<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span lang=\"EN-US\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td width=\"238\">\r\n<p><span lang=\"EN-US\">Q9: Overall, how comfortable were you interacting with the student?<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td width=\"233\">\r\n<p><span lang=\"EN-US\">Q10: What do you think this student could improve in? E.g. Be more courteous\/ respectful, speak or explain more clearly, listen more, check my understanding, answer my queries etc.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td width=\"238\" valign=\"top\">\r\n<p><span lang=\"EN-US\">\u20dd<\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\"> Very comfortable \u2013 I would like to have him\/ her be my\/ my child\u2019s doctor<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span lang=\"EN-US\">\u20dd<\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\"> Somewhat comfortable<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span lang=\"EN-US\">\u20dd<\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\"> Somewhat uncomfortable<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span lang=\"EN-US\">\u20dd<\/span><span lang=\"EN-US\"> Not comfortable at all \u2013 I do not want him\/ her to be my\/ my child\u2019s doctor<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td width=\"233\" valign=\"top\">\r\n<p><span lang=\"EN-US\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span lang=\"EN-GB\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<p align=\"center\"><span lang=\"EN-GB\">Table 1. Caregiver\/Patient Feedback Form<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span lang=\"EN-GB\">To evaluate the self-reported learning points from the course, students were asked upon course completion to provide course feedback, including free-text completion of the phrase: \u201cThings I have learnt include\u2026\u201d To evaluate whether the course improved the application of communication skills in real clinical encounters, caregiver\/patient feedback was obtained towards the end of the paediatric clerkship for all students, regardless of course participation (Table 1). This form was modified based on course content from a family feedback instrument utilised in a paediatric setting (Zimmer, Solomon, Siberry, &amp; Serwint, 2008). Implied informed consent was obtained from all participants.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span lang=\"EN-GB\">Final year medical students from a five-year Singapore undergraduate medical program were enrolled over one academic year (2017\/2018). Alternate batches (2<sup>nd<\/sup>, 4<sup>th<\/sup>, 6<sup>th<\/sup>, 8<sup>th<\/sup>) were enrolled into the course. Each student was provided a unique username and password for course access on any internet-enabled device throughout his\/her 2-week paediatric clerkship and course participation was strongly recommended. Students from other batches (1<sup>st<\/sup>, 3<sup>rd<\/sup>, 5<sup>th<\/sup>, 7<sup>th<\/sup>) were analysed as controls. All students integrated into paediatric clinical teams, participated in ward rounds and communicated plans to patients\/caregivers.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span lang=\"EN-GB\">Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS\u00a9 Statistics version 25.0 and chi-square analysis was used for patient feedback analysis.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span lang=\"EN-GB\">This study was exempted from formal Centralized Institutional Review Board review and implied informed consent was granted by the SingHealth Centralized Institutional Review Board.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><strong>III. RESULTS<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p><span lang=\"EN-GB\">A total of 146 students were posted to the study institution in academic year 2017\/2018 and 88 students were enrolled into the course. There were 80 (90.9%) attempts at the course, of which 76 (95%) students provided course feedback. The median time needed for course completion was 59 minutes. Patient feedback was successfully collected for 94 students, of which 44 (46.8%) attempted the course. Main reasons for unsuccessful collection were fast patient turnovers and patients\/caregivers rejecting the request to provide feedback, usually due to perceived insufficient student contact time.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><i><span lang=\"EN-GB\"><\/span><\/i><i><span lang=\"EN-GB\">A. Application of Communication Skills \u2013 Evaluated via Patient Feedback<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<p><span lang=\"EN-GB\">Although there were generally no differences in patient feedback between intervention and control groups, the control group was more likely to check with caregivers\/patients whether they were agreeable with the management plan (76.0% vs. 56.8%, p&lt;0.05) and provided a summary to the caregiver\/patient (74.0% vs. 47.7%, p&lt;0.05). Approaching statistical significance was the finding that caregivers\/patients were more likely to feel very comfortable with the intervention compared to the control group (65.9% vs. 48.0%, p=0.062).<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span lang=\"EN-GB\"><em>B.<\/em> <\/span><i><span lang=\"EN-GB\">Course Impact on Self-Reported Confidence Levels<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<p><span lang=\"EN-GB\">For scenario 1, the median confidence level increased from 3 (\u201csomewhat confident\u201d) to 4 (\u201cvery confident\u201d). For the subsequent scenarios, this increased from 2 (\u201ca little confident\u201d) to 3 (\u201csomewhat confident\u201d).<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><em><span lang=\"EN-GB\">C. <\/span><\/em><i><span lang=\"EN-GB\">Self-Reported Learning Points \u2013Evaluated via Course Feedback<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<p><i><span lang=\"EN-GB\"><\/span><\/i><i><span lang=\"EN-GB\">1) Knowledge:<\/span><\/i><span lang=\"EN-GB\"> The majority of students mentioned learning about the clinical management and discharge advice for gastroenteritis and urinary tract infection, and the need for procedural sedation in uncooperative young children. Students reported that they had learnt general frameworks and principles for communication, and concepts of consent-taking. Students also frequently mentioned \u201cpractical\u201d, in terms of \u201cpractical knowledge\u201d and \u201cpractical tips\u201d for communication.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span lang=\"EN-GB\">2) <\/span><i><span lang=\"EN-GB\">Attitude:<\/span><\/i><span lang=\"EN-GB\"> Students mentioned that they learnt about the importance of empathy. They also reported important aspects of patient-centred care, such as understanding the parent\u2019s or patient\u2019s perspective to formulate a treatment plan together and ensuring mutual understanding via \u201cchecking back to ensure the parent truly understands\u201d and \u201cto have a closed loop at the end of each communication\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><i><span lang=\"EN-GB\">3) Skills:<\/span><\/i><span lang=\"EN-GB\"> On a broader perspective, students described that they had learnt \u201chow to properly structure communication with a patient\u2019s parents\u201d and \u201chow to better communicate with parents using the various strategies\u201d. Almost all students reflected that they had learnt specific communication skills, particularly with regards to dealing with challenging situations such as \u201chow to approach parents who may not be cooperative\/willing to listen to you\u201d and \u201chow to address angry parents\u201d as well as \u201chow to address their concerns and manage their expectations\u201d. Two students also mentioned that they may not have been exposed to similar scenarios in their daily work: \u201c\u2026 handle scenarios which are often not taught within lectures.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><strong>IV. DISCUSSION<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p><span lang=\"EN-GB\">Computer-based communication courses have shown to improve students\u2019 self-efficacy in performing communication tasks and assessments of students\u2019 perceptions and practice of communication skills (Kemper et al., 2008), which was also demonstrated in this study\u2019s improvement in self-reported confidence levels. It is however, expected that most students would experience increased confidence immediately after receiving new information about an unfamiliar topic.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span lang=\"EN-GB\">This study provides an example of how a course that is traditionally delivered face-to-face can be designed to be delivered online, utilising less time and manpower resources while providing standardised teaching instruction in an evidence-based manner.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span lang=\"EN-GB\">The qualitative findings in this study have not been replicated elsewhere, and provide an interesting perspective to student course perception. Students gained practical knowledge which is not readily available in clinical clerkships due to patient case variability and gained insight into an applicable framework for future clinical communication encounters. It is possible that the interactive nature of the course increased student presence and participation, resulting in improved learning outcomes in this aspect (Ammenwerth et al., 2019). Empathy, an important professional skill not easily taught but reflected as a learning point, was likely acquired through non-verbal communication demonstrated in the videos. Although it is not guaranteed that self-reported knowledge, skills and attitudes will translate into practice, future e-learning communication courses can be designed as pre-course material for traditional role-play facilitators to enhance learning experiences.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span lang=\"EN-GB\">This study\u2019s use of patient feedback provides unique insight into applied learning. Interestingly, the control group fared better in the actions of checking with caregivers\/patients about management plan agreement and providing caregivers\/patients with a summary. As clerkships also provide opportunities to observe healthcare professionals conducting clinical communication, it is likely that the control group learnt these behaviours from real-life encounters. Caregivers\/patients tended to feel more comfortable with the intervention group, which could be explained through unmeasurable, subtle behaviours that the group may have learnt from the course, such as empathy, attentiveness and appropriate body language. Although the use of standardised patients for comparing both groups might have shown different results, it is known that how learners behave in the classroom and with real patients when unobserved is often less reflective of true workplace behaviours (Malhotra et al., 2009).<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span lang=\"EN-GB\">This study is limited by small participant and patient feedback numbers. Culturally, many patients forget their healthcare providers and experiences. An ideal situation would be direct clinical encounter observation, but due to the Hawthorne effect, a less truthful version of student behaviour may be observed instead.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><strong>V. CONCLUSION<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p><span lang=\"EN-GB\">Although online video-based communication courses can be used as a standardised teaching tool to improve student self-reported confidence levels and self-perceived knowledge, skills and attitudes, it remains to be proven if they can result in a change in student behaviour. It is likely that on-the-job experiences also contribute to their ability to demonstrate effective communication, which supports the supplementation, rather than the replacement of such practical experiences with online video-based course material.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><strong>Notes on Contributors<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p><span lang=\"EN-GB\">CC, CL and TKC contributed to the conception and design of the work. CC, CL and TKC also analysed data \u00a0and drafted the work . CC, CL and TKC approved the final published version and are agreeable to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved. CC, CL and TKC collectively contributed equally to this paper.<\/span><span lang=\"EN-GB\"><\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><strong>Ethical Approval<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p><span lang=\"EN-GB\">This study was exempted from formal Centralized Institutional Review Board review by the SingHealth Centralized Institutional Review Board (CIRB Ref: 2017\/2178).<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><strong>Acknowledgements<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p><span lang=\"EN-GB\">The authors would like to acknowledge the SingHealth Paediatrics Academic Clinical Programme in providing the grant funding for this project.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><strong>Funding<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p><span lang=\"EN-GB\">The study was funded by the SingHealth Paediatrics Academic Clinical Programme Tan Cheng Lim Fund Grant which was awarded in 2017 (Grant Reference: PAEDACP-TCL\/2017\/EDU\/001).<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><strong>Declaration of Interest<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p><span lang=\"EN-GB\">All authors disclose that there are no potential conflicts of interest, including financial, consultant, institutional and other relationships that could have direct or potential influence or impart bias on the work.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><strong>References<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p><span lang=\"EN-GB\">Ammenwerth. E., Hackl, W. O., Dornauer, V., Felderer, M., Hoerbst, A., Nantschev, R., &amp; Netzer, M. (2019). Impact of students\u2019 presence and course participation on learning outcome in co-operative online-based courses. <i>Studies in Health Technology and Informatics<\/i>, <i>262<\/i>, 87-90.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span lang=\"EN-GB\">Kemper, K. J., Foy, J. M., Wissow, L., &amp; Shore, S. (2008). Enhancing communication skills for paediatric visits through on-line training using video demonstrations. <i>BMC Medical Education<\/i>, <i>8<\/i>, 8.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span lang=\"EN-GB\">Makoul, G. (2001). Essential elements of communication in medical encounters: the Kalamazoo consensus statement. <i>Academic Medicine<\/i>, <i>76<\/i>(4), 390-393.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span lang=\"EN-GB\">Malhotra, A., Gregory, I., Darvill, E., Goble, E., Pryce-Roberts, A., Lundberg, K., &amp; Hafstad, H. (2009). Mind the gap: Learners&#8217; perspectives on what they learn in communication compared to how they and others behave in the real world. <i>Patient Education and Counseling<\/i>, <i>76<\/i>(3), 385-90. <\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span lang=\"EN-GB\">Zimmer, K. P., Solomon, B. S., Siberry, G. K., &amp; Serwint, J. R. (2008). Continuity-structured clinical observations: assessing the multiple-observer evaluation in a pae1diatric resident continuity clinic. <i>Pediatrics<\/i>, <i>121<\/i>(6), e1633-1645.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">*<span lang=\"EN-GB\">Cristelle Chow<br \/>\r\n<\/span><span lang=\"EN-GB\">Department of Paediatrics,<br \/>\r\n<\/span>KK Women\u2019s and Children\u2019s Hospital<br \/>\r\n<span lang=\"EN-GB\">100 Bukit Timah Road,<br \/>\r\n<\/span>Singapore 229899<br \/>\r\n<span lang=\"EN-GB\">Email: cristelle.chow.ct@singhealth.com.sg<\/span><\/p>","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":10,"template":"","issues_category":[17],"archive_category":[],"issue_type":[25],"volume_category":[57],"class_list":["post-1213","issues","type-issues","status-publish","hentry","issues_category-short-communications","issue_type-past-issue","volume_category-volume-5-number-3-september-2020"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Can an online clinical communication course impact learner behaviour? - The Asia Pacific Scholar<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/medicine.nus.edu.sg\/taps\/issues\/can-an-online-clinical-communication-course-impact-learner-behaviour\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Can an online clinical communication course impact learner behaviour? - The Asia Pacific Scholar\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Submitted: 17 March 2020 Accepted: 3 April 2020 Published online: 1 September, TAPS 2020, 5(3), 83-87 https:\/\/doi.org\/10.29060\/TAPS.2020-5-3\/SC2238 Cristelle Chow1, Cynthia Lim2 &amp; Koh Cheng Thoon3 1General Paediatrics Service, Department of Paediatrics, KK Women\u2019s and Children\u2019s Hospital, Singapore; 2Nursing Clinical Services, KK Women\u2019s and Children\u2019s Hospital, Singapore; 3Infectious Disease Service, Department of Paediatrics, KK Women\u2019s and [&hellip;]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/medicine.nus.edu.sg\/taps\/issues\/can-an-online-clinical-communication-course-impact-learner-behaviour\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"The Asia Pacific Scholar\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2021-01-05T00:28:12+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"12 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/medicine.nus.edu.sg\/taps\/issues\/can-an-online-clinical-communication-course-impact-learner-behaviour\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/medicine.nus.edu.sg\/taps\/issues\/can-an-online-clinical-communication-course-impact-learner-behaviour\/\",\"name\":\"Can an online clinical communication course impact learner behaviour? 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