Quality of family communication patterns among medical students at LNMC

Background. This study assesses family communication patterns among undergraduate MBBS students at Liaquat National Medical College (LNMC), Karachi, Pakistan, and explores their impact on mental well-being and academic performance. Family communication patterns, comprising conversation and conformity orientations, play a critical role in interpersonal relationships and student development.Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted from April 2022 to July 2024 with a sample of 365 students selected through non-probability convenience sampling; students present on data collection days were invited to participate. A self-administered questionnaire adapted from the Revised Family Communication Pattern (RFCP) instrument by Fitzpatrick and Koerner was used. The questionnaire was validated for the Pakistani population through a pilot study (Cronbach’s alpha: 0.82 for conversation orientation and 0.79 for conformity orientation), confirming its reliability. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 22, employing t-tests and chi-square tests. Likert scale scores were interpreted using validated cutoffs (conversation orientation: ≥59 high, ≤58 low; conformity orientation: ≥21 high, ≤20 low). Results. Of the 400 students invited, 365 participated (response rate: 91.25%), while 35 absent students were excluded. Absent students did not differ significantly from participants in terms of gender, age, or semester (p > 0.05). Most participants (66%) exhibited low conversation orientation, and 94% showed high conformity orientation, indicating that protective family types were predominant (63%) (Table 1). Female students had higher conversation orientation scores (p = 0.03), whereas male students had higher conformity orientation scores (p = 0.04).Conclusion. The high prevalence of protective family communication patterns suggests a need for targeted interventions, such as psycho-educational programs and family therapy workshops, to foster open communication. These interventions may enhance students’ emotional well-being, interpersonal skills, and resilience.