Telehealth Communication Strategies of Medical Students in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Telehealth in the context of the spread of COVID-19 requires doctors to use a new set of communicative skills in medical practice: good diction, the ability to conduct interviews with a patient, active listening skills, summing up, empathy, acting techniques. The aim of the study is to theoretically substantiate and experimentally test the effectiveness of telehealth communication strategies of medical students in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The leading methods of the study: Test “Assessment of communicative skills” by Karelin (2011); Yusupov’s Ability to Empathy Test (Ilyin, 2011); Online simulators “Development of Communication Competencies of a Doctor” (Kamalova & Gaifullina, 2022). We have proven that a patient-centered approach is an effective communication strategy. We developed a special course “Communicative competence of future doctors” for medical students majoring in “Medical business”. Online simulators have been developed to assess the medical students’ use of a patient-centered approach to communication with patients, posted on the Online Test Pad platform. The results of the study can be used in the professional training of medical students majoring in “Medical care”.