Insights into radiography students' perspectives on communication skills development in clinical training

Introduction

Effective communication is crucial in the healthcare industry. It builds trust, enhances understanding, and improves the quality of care. Radiographers, as the first point of contact for patients, need strong communication skills to ensure safety and facilitate effective interactions. Radiographers play a vital role in patient care and are frequently encountered by a substantial proportion of patients, significantly influencing patient outcomes.

This study aims to examine the attitudes of radiography students toward communication skills training in clinical education in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Methods

Ethical approval was obtained from Gulf Medical University for a cross-sectional study involving 91 radiography students from universities in the UAE. The study utilized a structured questionnaire called the Communication Skills Attitudes Scale (CSAS), which was administered via an online survey created using Google Forms. It consisted of 36 closed-ended questions presented in professional language tailored to the target audience. Data analysis was performed using IBM SPSS, and chi-square tests were utilized to assess associations between variables.

Results

The results indicate that 51.6 % of students support comprehensive communication skills training in radiography education. The importance of these skills becomes more significant as students’ progress academically (p = 0.001). Furthermore, there is a positive association between higher GPAs and a greater focus on communication skills, with statistically significant correlations (p = 0.008).

Conclusions

The findings highlight the significance of integrating comprehensive communication skills training into radiography education. With the progression of students' studies, the importance of these skills becomes more evident.

Impact on practice

Integrating comprehensive communication skills courses into radiography education may enhance students' capacity to effectively engage with patients and healthcare teams, thereby leading to improved patient care outcomes. These findings underscore the necessity for curriculum enhancements that better incorporate communication training.