Evaluation of a communication skills course: cultural relevance of the patient-centred interview in a Hong Kong Chinese setting

Evidence for the use of a patient-centred model for interviewing is well es tablished in the West. There is much less evidence for the application of t he model in other cultural settings. This paper describes the impact of a c ommunication skills (CS) course for doctors (n = 32) working in government outpatient clinics in Hong Kong. Emphasis is placed on the cultural relevan ce of the patient-centred interview (PCI) and educational techniques. Knowl edge scores increased immediately after the course and again 8 weeks later (p < 0.001). Participants held favourable attitudes at the outset of the co urse and these were largely maintained. Qualitative data suggests that the doctors' competence in CS increased. The PCI model was perceived as relevan t to the practices of these doctors. Barriers preventing the implementation of this approach related to organizational rather than cultural factors. T he educational strategies were well received suggesting that adult Chinese learners are not dissimilar to their Western counterparts in approaches to learning.