Table 1.

Description of communication skills and activities covered in early clinical experience (ECE) sessions

Session number and semester	Communication skills covered in session	Session activities
		Observation	Practice
1 Fall	Building rapport with the patient	Observe communication skills used by preceptor to establish or maintain a relationship with patients	Interview 1 or more patients: • Engage patient in discussion about their current illness including their symptoms, worries, and concerns and the effect of their illness on their life • Use core communication skills of open questioning, listening, and feedback
2 Fall	History of present illness (HPI) and the patient perspective	Observe communication skills used by preceptor in eliciting the HPI	Perform 1 or more patient interviews focused on eliciting the HPI including patient ideas, concerns, and expectations
3 Spring	Background history (past medical history, family history, social history) and responding to patient emotions	Observe how preceptor gathers background information and how he/she identifies and responds to patients’ emotions and other cues that they present (anxiety, discomfort, fear…)	Elicit the past medical history, social history, and family history from 1 or more patients
4 Spring	Review of systems (ROS)	Observe communication skills and content emphasized by preceptor in performing ROS with patients presenting with different complaints	Obtain a brief HPI and elicit a focused ROS from 1 or more patients
5 Spring	Full interview	Observe communication techniques used by preceptor throughout a complete patient interview	Perform a full patient interview, using a variety of communication skills learned during the academic year