Face-to-face" is not superior to "face-to-screen": comparing effects of online and offline communication skills course in postgraduate medical students.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The integration of online education in medical training has raised questions about its effectiveness for communication skills training (CST), which traditionally relies on face-to-face interaction to cultivate empathy and patient-centered doctor-patient relationship (DPR) orientation. This study aimed to compare the efficacy of online versus offline CST in postgraduate medical students.

Methods

A quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design was conducted with 435 second-year clinical postgraduates, divided into an online group (2022 cohort) and an offline group (2023 cohort). Both groups completed 28 h of CST covering seven communication scenarios, including role-plays and Balint groups. Online sessions used meeting software with mandatory camera use. Empathy was as

SUBMITTER: Geng W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12738318 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature