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Interpersonal Communication Assessment (ICA)

International medical graduates (IMGs)—graduates of medical schools outside the United States and Puerto Rico—are increasingly entering specializations that have a shortage of domestically-trained physicians. Among these specializations is family practice. At the Indiana University Family Practice Residency Program, the number of IMGs in residence has risen steadily in the past ten years, and currently IMGs make up 82% of residents. As the numbers of IMGs has risen, program administrators have recognized, based on evaluations and analysis of critical incidents, that some IMGs required enhanced training in communication skills.

Beginning in 2004, educator-administrators in IU Family Practice have referred cases to ICIC, a unit specializing in English for Specific Purposes and discourse analysis research. Initially, ICIC was asked to address linguistic issues, primarily involving pronunciation remediation on an individual basis for IMGs during their residency. However, what began as language training soon evolved into cultural training as well.

ICIC has worked with IU Family Practice Residency to provide language evaluation (through standard English proficiency tests and interviews) and culture assessment of all incoming residents, whether IMG or US-trained. It is within this context that the residency program curriculum director and ICIC set out to develop an assessment tool that would best identify those residents who would benefit from additional training in cultural norms. This tool was named the Interpersonal Communication Assessment (ICA) for reasons of face validity, as the name aligns with the ACGME general competency of Interpersonal and Communication Skills. The instrument is given to all incoming residents, whether they received their medical education domestically or internationally.  

ICIC is currently validating the ICA. For more information, please contact ICIC.