Fifteen years of a videotape review program for internal medicine and medicine-pediatrics residents

The medical interview remains the most valuable component in patient evaluation. In addition to its diagnostic usefulness, it is the foundation upon which the doctor-patient relationship is built. It is essential, therefore, that health care providers be well trained in interviewing. Evidence suggests that having residents conduct videotaped interviews with patients and review the videotapes with faculty is an excellent way to teach interviewing skills. Videotape review has been part of the residency programs in primary care internal medicine and medicine-pediatrics at Wayne State University School of Medicine for 15 years. Throughout the history of the videotape program, the authors have endeavored to make the review process less stressful for residents by ensuring that the reviews are nonthreatening, nonjudgmental, and learner-centered. In this paper, the authors discuss (1) the structure and process of the videotape review program; (2) recurrent themes of the review sessions; (3) residents' perspectives on the process; and (4) potential barriers to a successful videotape review program and suggestions for how to avoid or overcome them.