Non-verbal communication skills among teaching staff and medical students in a medical educational Institution in Khammam, Telangana, India

Nagapraveen Veerapu; Priscilla S. Swaminathan; Varun C. Nallamotu

doi:10.18203/2320-6012.ijrms20233702

Authors

Nagapraveen Veerapu Department of Community Medicine. Government Medical College, Ananthapuramu, Andhra Pradesh, India
Priscilla S. Swaminathan Mamata Medical College, Khammam, Telangana, India
Varun C. Nallamotu Mamata Medical College, Khammam, Telangana, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2320-6012.ijrms20233702

Keywords:

Medical students, Non-verbal communication skills, Questionnaire, Teaching staff

Abstract

Background: Non-verbal communication is generally defined as the aspect of communication that is not expressed in words. Through the use of non-verbal communication, teachers can draw student’s attention to more understanding and motivate students, and even bring excitement to the boredom students. Effective communication improves patient satisfaction. The objectives were to assess and to compare non-verbal communication skills among medical teaching staff and the students.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from July 2022 to August 2022 in an educational institution. The data was collected using a questionnaire. The questionnaire was downloaded from Questmeraki website. The questions on non-verbal communication skills were quantified on a five-point Likert scale. The participants scores were categorized and compared.

Results: As per the scores scored for non-verbal communication skills, among the teaching staff, 85.7% scored good score, and 14.3% scored excellent. Among the students, 82.1 scored good score, and 14.5% scored excellent. Though the teaching staff scored better than the students, the difference was not significant (p=0.068).

Conclusions: It is necessary for the teaching staff and the students to practice and learn effective communication skills, so that, it helps in successful interaction with the students and the patients, and among themselves.

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