Anette Wu, Que Yun Xiao, Sean McWatt, Rachel Utomo, Austin Talis, Kerstin Saraci, Cecilia Brassett, Mandeep Gill Sagoo, Richard Wingate, Chung-Liang Chien, Hannes Traxler, Jens Waschke, Franziska Vielmuth, Yukari Yamada, Takeshi Sakurai, Mina Zeroual, Jorgen Olsen, Salma El-Batti, Suvi Viranta-Kovanen, Kevin Keay, William Stewart, Carol Kunzel, Paulette Bernd, Heike Kielstein, Geoffroy P J C Noël
The Anatomy Course During COVID-19: The Impact of Cadaver-Based Learning on the Initiation of Reflection on Death
Medical science educator
good communication central effective social work practice helping develop constructive working relationships improve outcomes people receipt social work services strong consensus teaching learning communication skills social work students essential component social work qualifying courses however variation communication skills training components significant sizeable body evidence relating communication skills training therefore review findings helps clarify know important topic social work education conducted systematic review determine whether communication skills training social work students works types communication skills training effective lead positive outcomes systematic review aimed critically evaluate studies investigated effectiveness communication skills training programmes social work students research question review posed effectiveness communication skills training improving communicative abilities social work students intended review would provide robust evaluation communication skills training social work students help explain variations practice support educators policymakers make evidencebased decisions social work education practice policy conducted search published unpublished studies using comprehensive search strategy included multiple electronic databases research registers grey literature sources reference lists prior reviews relevant studies study selection based following characteristics participants social work students generic opposed client specific qualifying courses interventions included form communication skills training eligible studies required appropriate comparator intervention alternative intervention outcomes included changes knowledge attitudes skills behaviours study selection restricted geography language publication date publication type search strategy developed using terms featuring existing knowledge practice reviews consultation social work researchers academics review advisory panel ensure broad range terminology included one reviewer conducted database searches removing duplicates irrelevant records record screened title abstract reviewers ensure robustness studies deemed potentially eligible retrieved full text screened reviewers fifteen studies met inclusion criteria overall findings indicate communication skills training including empathy learnt systematic training social work students results identifiable improvements communication skills however evidence dated methodological rigour weak risk bias moderate highserious incomplete extreme heterogeneity exists primary studies interventions evaluated result data included studies incomplete inconsistent lacked validity limiting findings review whilst identifying research required review aimed examine effects communication skills training range outcomes social work education exception skill acquisition insufficient evidence available offer firm conclusions outcomes social work educators understanding communication skills empathy taught learnt remain limited due lack empirical research comprehensive discussion despite limitations variations educational culture findings still useful suggest communication skills training likely beneficial one important implication practice appears teaching learning communication skills social work education provide opportunities students practice skills simulated real environment researchers clear rigorous research required include using validated research measures using research designs include appropriate counterfactuals alongside careful consistent reporting development theoretical underpinnings interventions used teaching learning communication skills social work education another area researchers address