• Cadja Bachmann, Anne Barzel, Silke Roschlaub, Maren Ehrhardt, and Martin Scherer.
• Department of Primary Medical Care, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany. Electronic address: c.bachmann@uke.uni-hamburg.de.
• Patient Educ Couns. 2013 Nov 1; 93 (2): 298-305.

ObjectiveTo pilot-test feasibility, acceptance and learning-outcomes of a brief interdisciplinary communication skills training program in undergraduate medical education.MethodsA two-hour interdisciplinary communication skills program with simulated patients was developed and pilot-tested with clinical students at Hamburg University. Five psychosocial specialties facilitated the training. Composite effects were measured qualitatively and quantitatively.ResultsEighty students volunteered to participate in the pilot-program (intervention-group). Their evaluations of the program were very positive (1.1 on a six-point scale). Benefits were seen in feedback, increase of self-confidence, cross-disciplinary clinical and communication experience. Students who did not volunteer (n=206) served as the control-group. The intervention-group performed significantly better (p=0.023) in a primary care communication examination and female students performed better than males. Clinical teachers evaluated the pilot-training very positively with regard to learning-outcomes and feasibility. The positive results from the pilot-training led to implementation into the regular curriculum.ConclusionsA two-hour interdisciplinary communication skills training program is beneficial for medical students with regard to communication competencies, self-confidence and learning-outcomes.Practice ImplicationThe training is feasible within given time-frames and limited staff resources. The high teaching load for small-group-training are split between five specialties. The concept might be an interesting option for other faculties.Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

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