An effective communication is closely related to verbal and non-verbal skills. A slightly different use of words or postures can have a significant effect on the expression of empathy. While video recording of case scenarios with skills labels have been used as pre-class preparation, we have tried to use real time video recording during the in-class face to face role-playing tutorial.

Viewing the role playing by students themselves can pick up effective and non-effective communications skills. Providing instant feedback by playing back the recording of the role-playing can arouse their awareness of the effect of their verbal and non-verbal expressions. Those expressions can be repetitive but may not be obviously apparent to the students. Real-time feedback using the video recording can emphasize the negative effect of some common mistakes including lack of eye contact and use of medical jargons. On the positive side, some well-expressed empathetic response can cause an obvious relief of stress on the surrogate acting as the family members of the sick patients.

Video recordings of the in-class role playing can be further processed by adding the skills label to facilitate students’ revision with case scenarios which are different from the one they practiced. Students may be reluctant to be video recorded in the beginning of the lessons, but they mostly appreciate the effect once they have viewed their own recording.