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Curricular Integration of Soft Skills in Medical Education: Pedagogical Strategies and Impact Assessment

Abstract:

Introduction: Comprehensive training for healthcare professionals includes a combination of knowledge, technical skills, values, and attitudes that enable effective performance in real-world contexts, where soft skills are essential for achieving an adequate doctor-patient relationship. Objective: To analyze the curricular integration of soft skills in higher medical education programs and evaluate the impact of innovative pedagogical strategies. Methods: A quasi-experimental, descriptive, and correlational study was conducted, including a universe of 74 teachers and 189 students enrolled in the sixth to tenth semesters of the medical program at the Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo. Of these, 63 teachers and 128 students were included in the research sample. The level of integration of soft skills, active teaching strategies, the level of development of soft skills in students, and the attitude of teachers and students towards their integration into the curriculum were studied. Pearson's correlation test was used to identify the relationship between positive perception and improvement in the development of soft skills in students. Results: A low level of soft skills integration (36.96%) was identified in the medical school curriculum, as well as low levels of relevance, development, and evaluation among teachers and students in the pretest. Conclusions: There is a low level of curricular integration of soft skills in higher medical education programs. The implementation of innovative strategies increases positive attitudes and the acquisition of socio-emotional skills.