Assessment of communication skills – selected references
Numerous studies have been made on how and why to assess competencies in communication. We give only a few references, mainly reviews or consensus statements, from the vast literature on this subject.
- Boon H, Stewart M. Patient-physician communication assessment instruments: 1986 to 1996 in review.
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- Duffy FD, et al. Assessing Competence in Communication and Interpersonal Skills: The Kalamazoo II
Report. Acad Med. 2004;79:495–507.
- Elwyn G, Edwards A, Mowle S, Wensing M, Wilkinson C, Kinnersley P, Grol R. Measuring the involvement of patients in shared decision making: a systematic review of instruments. Patient
Education and Counseling 2001; 43:5-22.
- Kogan, J.R., Holmboe, E.S. and Hauer, K.E., Tools for direct observation and assessment of clinical skills of medical trainees: a systematic review, Jama, 302 (2009) 1316-26.
- Laidlaw A, Hart J. Communication skills: An essential component of medical curricula. Part I:
Assessment of clinical communication: AMEE Guide No. 511. http://www.amee.org/index.asp?lm=103
(accessed June 12th, 2012)
- Norcini J, Anderson B, Bollela V,Burch V, Costa MJ, Duvivier R, et al. Criteria for good assessment: consensus statement and recommendations from the Ottawa 2010 Conference. Medical Teacher 2011;
33: 206-214.
- Norcini, J. and Burch, V., Workplace-based assessment as an educational tool: AMEE Guide No. 31,
Med Teach, 29 (2007) 855-71.
- Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board (PMETB). Guidance. Developing and maintaining an assessment system - a PMETB guide to good practice. 2007. http://www.gmcuk.org/Assessment_good_practice_v0207.pdf_31385949.pdf (accessed 06.08.2012)
- Rider EA. Chapter 1 - Competency 1: Interpersonal and Communication Skills. In: Rider EA, Nawotniak
RH, Smith G.A practical guide. Teaching and Assessing the ACGME Core Competencies. Marblehead:
HCPro, Inc. 2007; pp1-84.
- Schirmer JM, Mauksch L, Lang F, Marvel MK, Zoppi K, Epstein RM, Brock D, Pryzbylski M. Assessing
Communication Competence: A Review of Current Tools. Familiy Medicine 2005.
- Teamwork and Communication Working Group. Improving patient safety with effective teamwork and communication: Literature review needs assessment, evaluation of training tools and expert consultations. Edmonton (AB): Canadian Patient Safety Institute; 2011. www.patientsafetyinstitute.ca
(accessed June 26th, 2012)

- Wass V, Van der Vleuten CPM, Shatzer J, Jones R. Assessment of clinical competence. The Lancet 2001;
357:945-949,