Comparing resident-patient encounters and case presentations in a family medicine clinic.

This study lends support to direct observation in workplace-based learning of communication skills. When content areas such as the patient's perspective and education are excluded, supervisors cannot address them. In addition, presentations provided minimal insight about the quality of resident-patient encounters and limited the ability to address communication skills. These skills could be enhanced by attending to communication cues during case presentations, making increased use of direct observation and feedback, and promoting faculty development to address these missed teaching opportunities.