Professional skills programme in a problem-based learning curriculum: experience at the College of Medicine & Medical Sciences, Arabian Gulf University

Evidence for the use of a patient-centred model for interviewing is well established in the West. There is much less evidence for the application of the model in other cultural settings. This paper describes the impact of a communication skills (CS) course for doctors (n = 32) working in government outpatient clinics in Hong Kong. Emphasis is placed on the cultural relevance of the patient-centred interview (PCI) and educational techniques. Knowledge scores increased immediately after the course and again 8 weeks later (p < 0.001). Participants held favourable attitudes at the outset of the course and these were largely maintained. Qualitative data suggests that the doctors' competence in CS increased. The PCI model was perceived as relevant to the practices of these doctors. Barriers preventing the implementation of this approach related to organizational rather than cultural factors. The educational strategies were well received, suggesting that adult Chinese learners are not dissimilar to their Western counterparts in approaches to learning.