[Pre-graduate training program in interviewing children in pediatric departments at the Rigshospitalet and Amager Hospital]. / Praegraduat faerdighedstraening i det paediatriske interview på Rigshospitalets og Amager Hospitals børneafdelinger.

The study describes a training program in interviewing children at the Departments of Pediatrics, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet and Amager Hospital, Faculty of Health, University of Copenhagen and evaluates the training sessions. The students' self-assessment ratings were summarized and compared using Mann-Whitney U test. Most students rated their learning outcome in interviewing children high. In conclusion, training of medical students in interviewing skills in a clinical department of pediatrics is feasible, although time consuming.

[Effect of 13 hours of medical interview training in undergraduate medical education]. / Effekt af 13 timer lang traening af det medicinske interview i den praegraduate laegeuddannelse.

The effect of a preparartory course in the medical interview ("taking history") followed by four months of practice was studied by comparison of a sample of trained students with a large group of untrained students, using the ACIRS rating scale. The course was 13 hours, spread out over one month. Training methods were 2 demonstrations and 3 videorecordings of interviews with simulated patients followed by feedback. Untrained students had severe gaps in important professional communication skills. About half of the trained students filled in these gaps as a result of the training. It is concluded that a short preparatory course followed by clinical experience is not enough to secure necessary interviewing skills in most medical students.

[Communication skills training for medical students: from the simple to the complex]. / Traening i informationssamtalen for medicinstuderende: fra det enkle til det komplekse.

Communication skills training at the Medical School of Copenhagen University aims to teach students basic skills in both interviewing and giving information. The article describes a method whereby the students follow a general communication skills model for giving information. The training is conducted with simulated patients (actors). It begins with providing information about simple diagnostic or operative procedures and routine tests. These skills are also practiced in clinical courses on real patients, under supervision. Later on, the students are trained in breaking bad news, but with simulated patients only.