Effects of Communication Training for Mental Health Occupational Therapy Interns

Communication skills are essential for occupational therapy (OT) practitioners working in mental health settings. Strong communication skills improve treatment quality, therapeutic relationships, and clinical outcomes. However, there is currently no evidence-based communication training specifically designed for OT interns in mental health. This gap limits both clinical education and research in the field.

This study aims to develop and evaluate a structured communication skills training program for mental-health OT interns, called the Intervention Protocol for Communication Skills of Occupational Therapy Interns (iCOT). The study has two phases and uses a single-blind clinical trial design, in which expert raters are blinded to group assignment.

Phase 1: Development of the iCOT Program

In Phase 1, researchers will create the iCOT training program through several steps:

Teaching content: Materials will be designed based on established models of therapist-patient communication in mental health.

Teaching methods: Instructional strategies will be developed to fit OT interns' learning needs.

Procedure design: The training sequence will align with internship schedules and clinical workflow.

Expert validation: Three clinical experts, two university instructors, and five recent graduates will review and validate the initial version.

Feasibility testing: Five interns, their clinical supervisors, and patients will pilot-test the program to refine the final version.

Phase 2: Evaluation of iCOT Effectiveness

In Phase 2, the finalized iCOT program will be tested. The intervention group will include OT interns, clinical supervisors, and patients participating in the current study. The comparison group will consist of previously collected data from 44 interns, 9 supervisors, and 97 patients.

The primary outcome is interns' communication performance evaluated by blinded expert raters using the Gap-Kalamazoo Communication Skills Assessment Form (GKCSAF). Secondary outcomes include GKCSAF ratings completed by clinical supervisors, patients, and the interns themselves.

This study will provide the first evidence-based communication skills training protocol tailored to OT interns in mental health and may support future improvements in clinical education and quality of care.

Inclusion criteria

Occupational therapy interns: willing to participate; no additional inclusion or exclusion criteria.

Clinical supervisors (occupational therapists): willing to participate; no additional inclusion or exclusion criteria.

Patients:

Diagnosed with any DSM-5 mental disorder

Age 20 years or older

Able to provide informed consent

Adequate verbal communication ability

Exclusion criteria

Patients: severe cognitive impairment (e.g., aphasia or inability to follow three-step commands).

Interns and supervisors: none.