Teaching Communication and Listening Skills to Medical Students Using Life Review with Older Adults

Abstract

The University of South Carolina School of Medicine introduced a seminar in 2003 to teach communication and listening skills to third year medical students. The students learned a structured communication format called "L-I-S-T-E-N" which they utilized to conduct a life review with an adult over age 65. The faculty evaluated this educational experience using transcribed audiotapes of the life reviews, reflection papers written by the students, and interviews with students and mentors about the life review session. The life review experience increased students' understanding of how psychosocial, cultural, spiritual, and life-changing events affect health and health behaviors.