Let’s Talk Critical. Development and Evaluation of a Communication Skills Training Program for Critical Care Fellows

• DOI: 10.1513/annalsats.201501-040oc
• Publication Date: 2015-03-05T19:11:29Z
• Authors: Aluko A. Hope; S. Jean Hsieh; Jennifer M. Howes; Adam B. Keene; James A. Fausto; Priya A. Pinto; Michelle Ng Gong
• Keywords: Adult; Male; Physician-Patient Relations; Critical Care; Communication; Critical Illness; 4. Education; 16. Peace & justice; 3. Good health; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Professional-Family Relations; Pulmonary Medicine; Humans; Female; Clinical Competence; Curriculum; Fellowships and Scholarships; Program Development

Rationale: Although expert communication between intensive care unit clinicians with patients or surrogates improves patient- and family-centered outcomes, fellows in critical medicine do not feel adequately trained to conduct family meetings.Objectives: We aimed develop, implement, evaluate a skills program that could be easily integrated into U.S. fellowship.Methods: developed four simulation cases provided challenges commonly face. For each case, we list of directly observable tasks used by faculty during simulation. didactic curriculum lectures/case discussions on topics related palliative care, end-of-life skills, bioethics; this month-long began ended the leading meetings up two simulated direct observation who were blinded timing Our primary measures effectiveness fellows’ self-reported change comfort after was completed quality as measured evaluators meeting simulations at end month.Measurements Main Results: Over 3 years, 31 participated program, 28 whom 101 feedback facilitators. trainees showed high rates information disclosure meetings. During done month compared those beginning, our significantly improved in: (1) verbalizing an agenda for (64 vs. 41%; Chi-square, 5.27; P = 0.02), (2) summarizing what will patient 39%; 6.21; 0.01), (3) providing follow-up plan (60 37%; 5.2; 0.02). More than 95% participants (n 27) reported feeling “slightly” “much” more comfortable discussing foregoing life-sustaining treatment curriculum.Conclusions: A can feasibly training is associated improvements