Communication Skills of Department Heads in Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences

Introduction: The technique to deal with individuals or “communication skill” is one of the essential skills for faculty members and educational managers. This study was performed to evaluate the communication skills of department heads in Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was performed on all heads of the departments in Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences (n=44) in 2010. Data was collected via Barton’s questionnaire. After questionnaire scoring, data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, t test, and ANOVA. Results: The mean of total communication skills score among head of departments was 58.15±4.66 and the means for feedback, listening, and verbal skills 21.14±2.9, 16.25±3.3, and 20.77±2.5 respectively. Also the results showed that the mean of communication skills subscales was different in department heads of different schools. Conclusion: According to the results of this study, Managers have a moderate level of communication skills. Therefore, it is essential to hold workshops to enhance the skills.