Predicating Attitude Toward Learning Communication Skills in Medical Students of Shahid Beheshti University

The ability of communicating with people is of great importance for physicians. Predicting unknown variables like personality traits is one of the important impressive issues in choosing future medical experts in medical training. Regarding this, medical colleges have training programs all around the world. The present study aimed to investigate the attitude toward learning communication skills based on the personality traits of medical students.

This correlational study was done in 2019 and the participants were medical students who were selected using a convenience sampling method. Zuckerman-Kuhlman personality questionnaire and communication skills attitude scale (CSAS) were used for data collection. CSAS was used to assess positive and negative attitudes.

The results showed that only the sociability dimension among the five dimensions of personality had a significant relationship with attitude toward learning communication skills (P = 0.018). Moreover, significant relationships of gender (P = 0.022), mother’s education level (P = 0.049), and residence (P = 0.036) with attitude to learning communication skills were found.

According to the results, the dimension of demographic characteristics is effective in improving communication skills of medical students. Therefore, it is recommended that it should be considered in medical curriculum development and revision and modifications.