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In this paper we describe and discuss communication skills training in Denmark - it has come a long way. After a short review of current research we outline the history of communication training in Denmark and describe the case of communication training at Aarhus University, which illustrates how the Danish universities have radically changed their communication training in the last decade. Finally, we discuss communication models and teaching methods and recommend an attempt to reach a national consensus on communication training.

In this paper we describe the first four phases of a curriculum reform covering the three clinical years of medical school at Aarhus University. The reform intends to ease students' transition from medical school to the foundation year, increase focus on communication, create more coherence between subjects, increase students' active participation, and align learning outcomes and assessments. More than 80 stakeholders participated in the first phases and five task forces gave their recommendations on how to achieve the intentions. The next phases are initiated on the basis of this solid work.

Lecturing is one of the oldest forms of teaching. The lecture is as effective as other teaching formats for transmitting information. One of the major defects of the lecture method is that it tends to induce passive learning. In order to lecture effectively, the lecturer must gain and hold the attention of the audience. Also, the audience should be given a chance to elaborate on the information presented. The list of expedient lecturing skills is long. In this paper we focus on how to effectively open and close a lecture. In addition, we give suggestions to how an audience may be actively engaged.

In 2007 the Faculty of Health Sciences, Aarhus University, took a first step towards outcome-based education. During an educational development process, all courses developed clear, consistent descriptions of learning outcomes and extensive, template-based course descriptions. This enabled the Faculty to implement a new national grading system and to prepare for Aarhus University's application for an ECTS label. Furthermore, the process created the basis for alignment of outcomes, assessment and teaching. In this paper, we share results, problems encountered and lessons learned.

Introduction: The medical profession and hospital practice have changed over the last decades without a concomitant change in Danish clerkships. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze learning and supervision in clerkships and to discuss how traditional clerkship learning matches a modern effective hospital environment., Material and Methods: A qualitative field study based on 38 days of observations ( asymptotically equal to 135 hours) with 6 students in 8th Semester in 2 internal medical and 3 surgical wards at 2 teaching hospitals in Aarhus County during 2003. The 6 students were interviewed prior to and following clerkship. Data were coded using Ethnograph and analyzed qualitatively., Results: The students typically participated in 6 learning activities: morning reports, ward rounds, out-patient clinics, on call, clerking, and operating theatres. A common feature for the first 3 activities was the students' observational role in contrast to their more active role in the latter 3 activities. Supervision was primarily indirect as the doctors worked and thereby served as tacit role models. When direct, the supervision was didactic and characterized by information transfer., Conclusion: A clerkship offers important learning opportunities for students. They are exposed to many patients and faced with various clinical problems. However, the benefit of students learning in authentic environments is not fully utilized, and the didactic supervision used by doctors hardly matches the learning conditions in a busy hospital. Consequently, we need to reassess the students' roles and doctors' supervisory methods.

Introduction: We compared and contrasted the learned and intended practical clinical skills of the three Danish medical schools., Material and Methods: An anonymous questionnaire listing 210 practical clinical skills was posted to 226 newly qualified Danish physicians. They were asked if they could meet the minimum level for each of the skills, which had earlier been identified by a Delphi study., Results: The response rate was 80%. None of the responders met the minimum of all the 210 skills. Only 8% (14) met the minimum level for at least 90% (189) of the skills. On average, the responders met the minimum for 74% (155) of the skills. More than 90% of the responders could take medical histories and carry out examinations. The responders did not meet 28 medical emergency procedures., Discussion: We found that the clinical skills learned constituted 75% of those intended. Those responsible for pre- and postgraduate medical training should be aware of the discrepancy between expected and learned skills. We discuss the role of experts in the process of defining the core curriculum.

Introduction: The aim of the present study was to use the Delphi technique to identify standards of quality for the curriculum of basic clinical skills in the pre-registration internship., Method: The Delphi method was used with a selected panel of 52 experts to set a level of competence for 213 practical clinical skills in a series of three questionnaires., Results: For the pre-registration internship, the panel reached a 75% level of consensus for 80% of the basic clinical skills. A total of 47 basic clinical skills were identified (97% level of consensus) as core skills that should be mastered by the time of registration., Discussion: The study suggests that further investigations should be performed to identify a core curriculum of basic clinical skills common to all pre-registration internists. In addition, a curriculum of electives should be based on the special characteristics of each training department.

Introduction: The necessity of defining standards in medical education is increasingly recognised. The aim of the present study was to adapt the Delphi method in establishing a consensus about competence levels of basic clinical skills in the undergraduate medical curriculum., Method: We used a Delphi design with two postal rounds. An expert panel of 52 physicians was selected on the criteria of knowledge and practical engagement in medical education. Questionnaires were set up with lists of 213 practical skills based on literature studies. Six levels of competence were identified. The task of the panel was to select the competence level for each skill., Results: The panel reached a 75% level of consensus in 212 of the 213 skills. A core curriculum of basic clinical skills in the medical education of Danish undergraduates is proposed., Discussion: The Delphi method was found applicable to qualify the process of identifying goals in a medical curriculum design.