UCVM Clinical Communication Skills Program (CCSP) & Related Research
The University of Calgary Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (UCVM) recognizes communication as a core clinical skill that can impact the efficiency of service delivery, the formation of client-veterinarian relationships, team- based effectiveness and overall quality of care for patients. As a stream within the Professional Skills Curriculum, CCSP aims to teach students evidence based skills in clinical communication using teaching modalities that include simulation, coaching, feedback in a highly interactive setting. CCSP utilizes frameworks (Calgary-Cambridge Guide) for teaching, learning, formative and summative assessment of communication skills.
There is over 50 years of communication research in human medicine and 15 or so years of research in veterinary medicine. Observational research in veterinary contexts reveals a strong relationship between effective communication and outcomes including adherence to recommendations, client and veterinary satisfaction, enhanced patient care.
Similarly, research pertaining to teaching and learning communication in veterinary medicine and across an array of contexts is relatively young. Projects in this area are meant to deepen observational research in a range of veterinary contexts (small and large animal) and best practices for teaching and assessing communication throughout veterinary education.
- Online and virtual platforms for teaching and assessing communication
- Intervention study to assess effectiveness of communication teaching for dairy health
- Creation of a self-assessment of communication skills in student's clinical year
Ritter C, ADAMS, C.L., Kelton D.F, Barkema H.W. Clinical communication patterns of veterinary practitioners during dairy herd health and production management farm visits. J. Dairy Sci. 2018; 101(11):10337-10350.
Phillips A., Coe JB., Rock MJ., and ADAMS, C.L. Feline obesity in veterinary medicine: insights from a Thematic Analysis of communication in practice. Frontiers in Veterinary Medicine July 2017 4(117):1-14.
Artemiou, E., Hecker, K.G., ADAMS, C.L. and Coe JB. Does a Rater’s Professional Background Influence Communication Skills Assessment? Journal of Veterinary Medical Education, Winter 2015 42(4):315-323.
Artemiou E, ADAMS, C.L., Hecker K, Violato C, Vallevand A, Coe J. Standardized clients as assessors in a veterinary communication OSCE: a reliability and validity study. Veterinary Record, 2014;175(20):509.
Artemiou, E., ADAMS, C.L., Vallevand, A., Violato, C., Hecker, K. Measuring the Effectiveness of Small Group and Web-based Training Methods in Teaching Clinical Communication. Journal of Veterinary Medical Education, Fall 2013; 40 (3): 242-51.
Hecker K, ADAMS, C.L., Coe JB. Assessment of 1st year veterinary student’s communication skills using an objective structured clinical exam: the importance of context, Journal of Veterinary Medical Education 2012 39(3):304-10.