Correlation of communication skills for emotional empathy and academic achievement on clinical performance examinations.

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to identify the correlation between communication skills for emotional empathy and academic achievement on the Clinical Performance Examination (CPX). METHODS One hundred twelve medical school students were observed to determine the extent to which they applied communication skills for emotional empathy (preparation stage: interview attitude, respect; rapport stage: encouragement, active listening, will for support; empathy stage: verbal expression empathy, nonverbal expression empathy, acceptance) to the CPX, as well as their level of understanding of these skills to calculate the Pearson r, which can be used to determine the correlation between communication skills and academic achievement (hematochezia, fatigue, abnormal menstruation, chest pain, alcohol problems). RESULTS Male students had higher scores than females for all communicational skills except verbal expression empathy. Fourth-year students had statistically more significant correlations than third-year students with regard to the rapport stage 'active listening' and empathy stage 'nonverbal expression' and abnormal menstruation and chest pain. Correlations were also more significant for hematochezia in the preparation stage 'interview attitude,' rapport stage 'encouragement,' and empathy stages 'verbal and nonverbal expression' and 'acceptance.' The empathy stage 'nonverbal expressions' was more significant for fourth-year students with alcohol problems. Third-year students largely had negative correlations between emotional empathy communication skills and CPX academic achievement, especially between the preparation stage 'respect' and abnormal menstruation, and between the rapport stage 'encouragement' and hematochezia. CONCLUSION There was a significant correlation between hematochezia, wherein MS students deliver bad news to patients, and communication skills for emotional empathy.