Introduction: Postgraduate teaching involves training the residents in all spheres including professionalism, communication and interpersonal skills in addition to the basic clinical skills. Therefore, 360 degree evaluation has gained focus due to increased standards of medical care as shown in this study.
Aim: To evaluate interpersonal and communication skills and professionalism in residents doctors using 360 degree evaluation method.
Materials and methods: The present study was a descriptive study conducted at a tertiary care hospital affiliated with a medical college. Taking up as a pilot project, 26 residents from four departments were recruited in this study. A five point likert scale (1 to 5,1 meaning poor, 5 meaning excellent) was used for scoring them on for their interpersonal and communication skills and professionalism by the persons working around their sphere like teachers, peers, nursing staff, undergraduate students and patients/or relatives (360 degree).
Results: Though the ratings by the peers and consultants were found to be slightly lower compared with nursing staff, undergraduate students and patients, there was good agreement between all of them. The mean score of all traits showed an increasing trend over the years of residency.
Conclusion: Regular orientation programs for professionalism with 360 degree evaluation and subsequent feedback to the resident doctor about their strength and weaknesses can definitely bring out behavioural change in the resident doctor in practice.
Keywords: Communication skills multisource assessment; Interpersonal skills; Professionalism.