METHODS: A qualitative descriptive research study using in-depth semi-structured interviews was conducted with Year 3 medical students and patients to study their experiences at a primary care clinic, over two weeks. Data were transcribed verbatim and analysed using Braun and Clark's thematic analysis. Both students' and patients' views on communication skills were obtained.
RESULTS: Three themes were established based on student-patient communication in primary care settings: socio-cultural elements in student-patient communication; cognitive and emotional challenges for effective communication; and enablers for effective student-patient communication. The themes and sub-themes describe both students and patients valuing each other as individuals with socio-cultural beliefs and needs.
CONCLUSION: The findings can be used to structure new approaches to communication skills education that is patient-centred, culturally sensitive, and informed by patients. Communication skills training should encourage students to prioritise and reflect more on patient perspectives while educators should engage patients to inform and assess the outcomes.
METHODS: All fourth-year pharmacy students enrolled in Monash University in 2017 were provided access to MOVE. Cost-minimization analyses were performed to evaluate the cost of introducing MOVE in the pharmacy course using the smallest cohort size (Malaysia campus) of 40 students as the base case. We also determined under what circumstances MOVE would be more cost-effective, considering the different operational situations such as when student numbers increased or when the number of simulation modules created were increased.
RESULTS: The overall cost of setup and implementation of MOVE in the first year of implementation among 40 students was US $94.38 per student. In comparison, the face-to-face workshop cost was US $64.14 per student. On the second year of implementation, the ongoing cost of operation of MOVE was US $32.86 per student compared with US $58.97 per student using face-to-face workshop. A net benefit using MOVE was observed after the third year of implementation. Larger savings were noted when the cohort size extends larger than 100 students.
CONCLUSIONS: Monash OSCE Virtual Experience was a flexible and cost-effective approach to aid students in preparation for an OSCE and enhanced students' learning experience. The wider applicability of these findings will need to be explored in other settings.