Speaker Training Pilot Program for Women in Health Care Decreases Fear of Public Speaking

摘要

Background: Effective and engaging public speakingis a skill that facilitates academic advancement inhealthcare by increasing name recognition as a sourceexpert and creating networking and collaboratingopportunities. Studies suggest that female speakers areunder-represented in academic settings and face uniquechallenges in developing speaking skills. To addressthis problem, our institution’s resource group “WomenAdvancing and Achieving in Medicine” piloted a women’sspeaker training program.Objectives: This study aims to assess feasibility, value toparticipants, and effectiveness in encouraging public speaking.Methods: Participants were nominated by departmentchairs to attend a 6-month program created in collaborationwith Speaker Sisterhood, a network of speaking clubs forwomen. Sessions included didactics, speaking exercisesand immediate group feedback, culminating in a finalvideotaped speech by each participant. Participantscompleted a before and after validated survey “PersonalReport of Communication Apprehension” (PRCA_24).Qualitative reported value to participants was documentedin their final videotaped session. Non-parametric WilcoxonRanks Signed tests were run in conjunction with descriptivestatistics using SPSS software.