Assessment of communication skills of surgical residents using the Social Skills Inventory

BackgroundInterpersonal and communication skills are 1 of the 6 core competencies articulated as essential to resident education by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. The current study assessed verbal and nonverbal communication skills among surgical residents.MethodsThe communication skills of surgical residents (n = 64) were assessed using the Social Skills Inventory.ResultsThe majority of surgical residents demonstrated strong verbal and nonverbal skills, although the equilibrium index scores demonstrated an imbalance in the social skill profile for a minority (17.2%) of residents. Post graduate year was positively related to social expressivity (r = .31, P < .01) and social control (r = .27, P < .01) skills. In some cases, being proficient in one social skill was actually negatively related to another.ConclusionsThe Social Skills Inventory was found to be a useful instrument for the multidimensional assessment of resident communication skills. Areas of strengths and weaknesses were identified and could be used for targeting areas for future educational interventions.