Non-technical skills in professional training in Internal Medicine
Keywords:
Non-technical skills, Internal Medicine, Professional training, Soft skills, Medical education, Quality of care, HealthAbstract
This study aimed to analyse the role of non-technical skills in the training of Internal Medicine specialists, recognising their impact on care quality, patient safety, and clinical professionalism. A documentary investigation with an interpretative and experiential approach was conducted through a systematic review of academic literature, clinical guidelines, and scientific studies published between 2015 and 2024 in databases such as PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and SciELO. The analysis was structured around thematic categories related to clinical communication, leadership, empathy, and teamwork, following methodological principles outlined by Arias and Hernández et al. Findings indicate that non-technical skills are essential for the performance of internal medicine physicians, as they enhance multidisciplinary coordination, strengthen the doctor–patient relationship, improve therapeutic adherence, and reduce clinical errors; conversely, their absence is associated with interprofessional conflict, communication failures, and increased emotional strain. It is concluded that these skills constitute a priority formative axis that should be explicitly incorporated into residency programmes through pedagogical strategies based on humanistic practice, clinical simulation, and reflective learning.
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