Assessment of communication skills.

Abstract

This paper addresses how communication skills can best be assessed. Since assessment and learning are strongly connected, the way communication skills are best learned is also described. Communication skills are best learned in a longitudinal fashion with ample practice in an authentic setting. Confrontation of behavior initiates the learning process and should be supported by meaningful feedback through direct observation. When done appropriately a set of (learned) communication skills become integrated skilled communication, being versatilely used in purposeful goal-oriented clinical communication. The assessment of communication skills should follow a modern approach to assessment where the learning function of assessment is considered a priority. Individual assessments are feedback-oriented to promote further learning and development. The resulting rich information may be used to make progression decisions, usually in a group or committee decision. This modern programmatic approach to assessment fits the learning of skilled communication well. Implementation of a programmatic assessment approach to communication will entail a major innovation to education.