Assessing the Effectiveness of an Ethical Communication Course for Romanian Medical Students: A Pretest-Posttest Study

Effective communication is essential in healthcare, prompting the inclusion of communication courses in medical education. However, the effectiveness of such courses for Romanian medical students has not been evaluated. This pilot study investigates the impact of an ethical communication course on Romanian medical students' communication self-efficacy, communication skills, and the perceived importance of communication. Students attended a 3-month course on ethical communication, covering active listening, assertive communication, conflict management, non-verbal communication, patient- centered care, and ethical considerations in various medical fields. The course was developed based on the European Psychiatric Association guide regarding ethical aspects of communication with patients and their families. The data were analyzed on a sample of 24 students who completed the questionnaires at pretest and posttest. Students reported higher levels of medical communication self-efficacy and perceived importance of medical communication after the course. However, no statistically significant differences were found in health professionals’ communication skills. Future courses should include more patient interactions and varied teaching methods. Further research with larger samples and control groups is needed.