Document Type
Article
Publication Title
Palliative medicine reports
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Empathic communication skills have a growing presence in graduate medical education to empower trainees in serious illness communication.
OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the impact, feasibility, and acceptability of a shared communication training intervention for residents of different specialties.
DESIGN: A randomized controlled study of standard education v. our empathic communication skills-building intervention: VitalTalk-powered workshop and formative bedside feedback using a validated observable behavioral checklist.
SETTING/SUBJECTS: During the 2018-2019 academic year, our intervention was implemented at a large single-academic medical center in the United States involving 149 internal medicine and general surgery residents.
MEASUREMENTS: Impact outcomes included observable communication skills measured in standardized patient encounters (SPEs), and self-reported communication confidence and burnout collected by surveys. Analyses included descriptive and inferential statistics, including independent and paired
RESULTS: Of residents randomized to the intervention, 96% (
CONCLUSIONS: Our educational intervention increased residents' confidence and use of essential communication skills. Facilitating a VitalTalk-powered workshop for medical and surgical specialties was feasible and offered a shared learning experience for trainees to benefit from expert palliative care learning outside their field.
First Page
26
Last Page
35
DOI
10.1089/pmr.2021.0036
Publication Date
3-30-2022
Recommended Citation
Lockwood BJ, Gustin J, Verbeck N, Rossfeld K, Norton K, Barrett T, Potts R, Towner-Larsen R, Waterman B, Radwany S, Hritz C, Wells-Di Gregorio S, Holliday S. Training to Promote Empathic Communication in Graduate Medical Education: A Shared Learning Intervention in Internal Medicine and General Surgery. Palliat Med Rep. 2022 Mar 30;3(1):26-35. doi: 10.1089/pmr.2021.0036. PMID: 35415720; PMCID: PMC8994435.