AUTHOR=Festl-Wietek Teresa , Erschens Rebecca , Griewatz Jan , Zipfel Stephan , Herrmann-Werner Anne 

TITLE=How to communicate with patients in written asynchronous online conversations: an intervention study with undergraduate medical students in a cross-over design

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Medicine

VOLUME=Volume 10 - 2023

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/medicine/articles/10.3389/fmed.2023.1026096

DOI=10.3389/fmed.2023.1026096

ISSN=2296-858X

ABSTRACT=Introduction: The patient-physician encounter is the core element in the treatment of patients and the diagnosis of disease. In these times of digitalisation, patient-physician communication is increasingly taking place online: patients embrace new possibilities offered digitally, and physicians are encouraged to adapt accordingly. Since a huge part of online communication is written, this study aims to investigate how medical students communicate with patients online by focussing on their written competencies and whether an intervention might improve their competencies.. Methods: This study was performed in an explanatory cross-sectional manner with a cross-over design. Second-year medical students participated. AFor this purpose, an intervention was developed on how to formulate an appropriate written response to a patient’s request and integrated a longitudinal communication class. The intervention consists of education on general set-up (e.g. greetings), syntax, spelling, content and kind of communication (e.g. appreciative attitude). After meeting a patient in a simulated role play Undergraduate medical students received the patient’s requestthe requests via a digital platform. The control group had the same simulated role play and the same task but they received the intervention on communication afterwards. after meeting the patient in simulated role play. Intervention and control group were statistically compared based on a checklist. Results: Twenty-nine medical students took part in the study. The results showed that the medical students had basic competencies in dealing with written communication independent if they received the of the intervention (CG: M = 3.86 ± 1.23 vs IG: M = 4.07 ± 1.03; p = .625). they received Similar results were also for the emotional competency ratings (MCG = 3.36 ± 1.08; MIG = 3.67 ± 0.98; p = .425).The intervention was able to lead to a more appreciative response towards patient. Discussion:  InterventionIntervention on basic competencies such as simple language and clear presentation might not be needed as should play an integral part in medical education. However, medical students should learn how to present empathic and authentic behaviour in written online communication.