Retention and use of patient-centered interviewing skills after intensive training

Purpose. Studies show that residents trained in patient-centered interviewi ng (PCI) are more effective in handling patients' emotions and are more ski llful in gathering patients' data. This study evaluated the long-term use o f PCI skills. Method. Fourteen residents received PCI training during internship, and the ir skills were evaluated before, immediately after, and two years after the ir training through directly observed patient interviews. A confidential su rvey evaluated the residents' actual use of PCI two years after the intensi ve training. Control groups of 14 interns Frier to PCI training and 14 resi dents from another program not trained in PCI were also surveyed. Results. Residents' use of PCI skills (optimization of setting, establishme nt of narrative thread, open-to-closed-ended questioning cone, avoid asking more than one question at a time, and facilitation) were significantly imp roved, even two years after their training in PCI. The residents who receiv ed intensive block training reported using PCI techniques more frequently t han did those in the control groups. However, the only significant differen ce in use of PCI skills between the intervention and control groups was fou nd in reflection of patient's emotions. Conclusion. Medical residents retained PCI skills for two years. Further st udies are needed to determine whether successful postgraduate training of p hysicians in PCI translates into a change in behaviors during their profess ional lives.