Teaching Interpersonal Communication Skills in Athletic Training Professional Education: A Mixed Methods Study.

Studies examining the impact interpersonal communication skills have on patient satisfaction, outcomes, and patient compliance have been conducted in healthcare.In addition, athletic training research suggests communication is a top attribute observed when hiring, yet many athletic trainers are deficient in their ability to communicate effectively.Although communication skills are highly important in athletic training, little research exists on how to teach such skills in athletic training programs.This was a mixed methods treatment randomized baseline post-test control group study designed to determine the effectiveness of a six-week communication skills training on athletic training students' interpersonal communication skills during initial patient encounters, whether athletic training students utilize effective interpersonal communication in the athletic training clinical education setting, and to understand athletic training students' perceptions of their interpersonal communication skills.Data were collected from 8 (n=8) athletic training students enrolled in an athletic training professional program during fall 2018 using a modified Calgary-Cambridge Observation Guide-Medical Skills Evaluation during patient encounters with a standardized patient.Results indicated athletic training students improved their communication skills over time by a mean score of 10 points out of 120 points once taught communication skills.Students perceived their communication skills to improve by a mean of 24.38 points out of 120 points, which research suggests this may be due to the student being less confident in a skill.Athletic training students' communication scores improved by a mean score of 23.75 out of 120 points when provided an opportunity to apply the skills learned in clinical practice.Frequency of Athletic Training Student Responses on the Self-Assessment Form... 1 CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION Kreps & Thornton (1992) defined human communication as "an area of study concerned with human interaction in the health care process" which is comprised of two components, the message and the meaning (p.2).Additionally, Schiavo (2007) defined health communication as "a two-way exchange of information that uses a common system of signs and behaviorsthat creates mutual feelings of understanding and sympathy among members of the communication team and intended audiences" (p.4).For the purpose of this study the health communication definition by Schiavo ( 2007) is used as the definition of communication due to the examination of such criteria as verbal and non-verbal behaviors of the clinician, demonstration of feelings of respect, confidence, and empathy, and observing the two-way interaction between the athletic trainer and their patients.Because communication occurs in a context, understanding that context and the purpose it serves is of utmost importance.Communication is considered an essential task because it is performed daily to build rapport with coaches, administrators, athletes, patients, parents, and other allied health care professionals.According to Stiller and Ostrowski ( 2007), a higher level of patient compliance and better outcomes can be attained when an athletic trainer builds a positive rapport with their patient.This rapport-building can occur by demonstrating key traits such as forming genuine interactions, relating to the patient on a personal level, keeping a positive attitude, and remaining informative.Silverman, Kurtz, & Draper (2013) stated patient outcomes improve with better communication, along with improving accuracy and efficiency of the consultation, patient satisfaction, and the therapeutic relationship.Health communication scholar du Pr (2005) wrote health communication is important in patient satisfaction; it increases the patient's trust, and improves patient compliance.Thus, in order to have patient compliance, patient satisfaction, and improved patient outcomes, the athletic trainer must be an efficient communicator and build relationships with not only colleagues and supervisors, but also with Interviews March 15, 2018 Research Questions 1.To what degree does a six-week communication skills training improve an athletic training student's interpersonal communication skills during a patient encounter?2. Do athletic training students with interpersonal communication skills training apply the communication skills into clinical practice?3. What are athletic training students' perceptions of their interpersonal communication skills during a patient encounter? Data AnalysisThis study was a mixed methods study; therefore, data analysis included both inferential statistics and descriptive content analysis to triangulate the data.When triangulating

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