Las competencias comunicativas orales en la relación médico-paciente en un programa de medicina de una universidad de Colombia: Una mirada desde el currículo, los profesores y los estudiantes

Aim: To determine the level of oral communication skills in the Medical Program at Universidad Autónoma de Bucaramanga. Materials and methods: Mixed descriptive study, which included a review of curriculum documents, surveys and focal groups with lecturers and internship medical students; in order to get their perceptions and level of appropriation of the teaching-learning process related to oral communication skills. Results and conclusions: A total of 22 documents were reviewed, with 49 professors and 67 internship surveyed, and 4 focal groups with professors and students were conducted. The documents review demonstrated that communication skills in doctor-patient relationships are an important purpose of the medical curriculum at Universidad Autónoma de Bucaramanga. However, a more organised, sequential, and harmonious curricular approach is needed that allows these skills to be acquired as a transverse component of the program. Both, professors and students recognise the importance of acquiring communication skills, but examples have been used as the main strategy of learning. They also recognise the that values acquired throughout life are the starting point for assuming adequate physician -patient communication. At Universidad Autónoma de Bucaramanga, it is also important to implement standardised and more objective assessment tools of student communication skills.