Objective: To compare knowledge, attitude and insight regarding communication skills in medical students before and after training.

Materials and methods: The study was conducted in the second year medical students in 2009 academic year. An anonymous and self-administered questionnaire was used as pre-test and post-test of this study. The data were analyzed using Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-ranks test to compare between pre-test and post-test of communication skills and linear regression analysis to explore the association of gender and grade on knowledge, attitude and insight of communication skills in medical students.

Results: There was a significant difference between pre-test and post-test in all aspects (p<0.001). Scores of student after training showed that they performed better in the knowledge, attitude and insight regarding communication skills. Linear regression revealed that after controlling for pre-test scores, gender was associated with insight into communication skills (p<0.001). Female medical students had lower post-test scores of insight in communication skills than did male medical students.

Conclusion: Communication skill training can improve knowledge, attitude and insight regarding communication skills.

Key words: attitudes, communication skill, insight, knowledge, medical student