摘要：Introduction In the last 10 years communication skills have been introduced into undergraduate studies in the Spanish Medical Schools (SMSs), however there are no reliable data on how this is being done. This is the objective of this study. Methods Observational study. Those responsible for teaching communication skills in the 41 SMSs from the official list of the Ministry of Health responded to a questionnaire sent electronically. Results A total of 35 (85.3%) SMSs responded. Curriculum organisation: 27 (79.4%) SMSs shared contents with others: 22 (64.7%) in preclinical period, 10 (29.5%) in clinical courses, and linked to work experience. Its teaching is compulsory in 25 (71.4%) SMSs. Clinical teachers made up the majority (29; 85.3%), although of the 35.3% (12) that were not, the majority were psychologists (8). Lectures and seminars with small groups predominate. Although role-playing is frequent (26 SMSs), it is performed “demonstratively” (95%), and not all students can rehearse and receive feedback. Simulated patients were rarely used (17). The evaluation is usually through written tests (28 SMSs). Thirty SMSs included some kind of practical evaluation, usually in work experience. Conclusions Although the majority of SMSs incorporated some content in communication skills, this incorporation seems to be far from being adapted to the requirements for effective learning. More studies are needed in order to reveal the circumstances in which this incorporation occurs, and the difficulties and barriers that the SMSs must face in order to improve this type of training for the future.
关键词：Communication skills ; Medical students ; Medical curriculum ; Medical education ; Teaching methods ; Evaluation
