Abstract:
Introduction Medical migration is now a well-established global phenomenon, and large numbers of entry-level undergraduates and qualified graduates regularly leave their countries of origin to study or practise medicine elsewhere (Hallock, McKinley, & Boulet, 2007). For the last 15 years, the medical programme in the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences at the University of Auckland has granted admission to a number of international students to complete the six years of a standard medical qualification (Bachelor of Medicine & Bachelor of Surgery). In Years 2-5 of their degree programme, satisfactory performance in simulated medical interviews is essential to achieving a passing grade in courses on professional communication skills. This requirement acknowledges that effective communication between clinicians and patients has a very positive effect on health outcomes (e.g. Levinson, Roter, Mullooly, Dull, & Frankel, 1997), and that poor communication is often at the heart of patient complaints (e.g. Taylor, Wolfe, & Cameron, 2002).