Outcome of Communication Training in Veterinary Studies: Influence on the Perception of the Relevance of Veterinary Competencies and Self-Assessment of Communication Skills

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Communication is of great importance in all veterinary fields. An e-learning course in the second year and a practical course based on role plays in the third year were set up in the veterinary studies program at Freie Universität Berlin. This study investigated the effects of the communication courses on the assessment of the skills that veterinarians need in their professional work and on the students’ self-perception of their own communication skills. Students conducted the survey before and after the e-learning course as well as before and after the practical course. Additionally, veterinarians were surveyed regarding which professional skills seem relevant from their point of view. The results show that students who have just completed the practical course rated communicative competencies for veterinary professional success higher than the other groups. These students also rated their own communication skills higher than all other students. This indicates that the practical course in combination with the e-learning course they had attended in their second year helped them to improve their self-assessment of communication skills, which is something they will benefit from in their professional lives. ABSTRACT: Since communication skills contribute significantly to professional success among veterinarians, there is a particular focus on developing communication classes in veterinary curricula. At Freie Universität Berlin, an e-learning course covering the basics of communication and a practical communication course based on role plays with and without simulation persons have been established. The outcome of these communication courses on the assessment of the relevance of several veterinary competencies and on the self-assessment of communication skills using the SE-12 questionnaire was investigated. For this purpose, students were surveyed before and after the e-learning course as well as before and after the practical course. Veterinarians were also surveyed on the relevance of veterinary competencies. The relevance of communicative competencies for professional success was rated significantly higher by the students after completing the practical course than by the other students and the veterinarians. Self-assessment of communication skills showed little increase after the e-learning course, but a significant increase after the practical course. Thus, an effective outcome of the communication classes was observed mainly after the practical course. However, the effect of the e-learning course cannot be ruled out since the students participating in the practical course have also completed the e-learning course beforehand.