MarcyRosenbaum¹
1 EACH: International Assocation for Communication in Healthcare 

Health professional educators note that providing feedback (formative assessment) to learners on their performance that is well received and impacts learners’ subsequent performance is a consistent challenge. This talk will explore the unique challenges that accompany feedback conversations related to learners’ clinical communication skills as part of formal communication learning sessions and in the immediate context of learners’ interactions with patients during supervised patient care (including as part of assessments such as WBAs/Mini CEX). Questions to be considered will include if and how communication skills feedback is different from feedback on other clinical skills and why and when communication skills feedback is challenging to accomplish effectively, particularly in the context of workplace- based education. Assumptions underlying approaches to giving effective feedback on learner communication skills and also research challenges in investigating practices and outcomes of communication skills feedback will be critically examined. This talk will be of interest to anyone who is involved in communication skills education and/or assessment for healthcare professional learners whether as a classroom or clinical teacher, a curriculum and evaluation developer, a healthcare practitioner and/or as a healthcare education or practice researcher.