Conscientious Refusal: A Workshop to Promote Reflective and Active Learning of Ethics, Communication Skills and Professionalism

Abstract

OPEN ACCESSJanuary 18, 2012Conscientious Refusal: A Workshop to Promote Reflective and Active Learning of Ethics, Communication Skills and Professionalism Carla Lupi, MD, Monica Broome, MD, Aliye Runyan, MS, Nicolette Schreiber Carla Lupi, MD Florida International University Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine Google Scholar More articles by this author , Monica Broome, MD University of Miami Google Scholar More articles by this author , Aliye Runyan, MS University of Miami Google Scholar More articles by this author , Nicolette Schreiber Jackson Memorial Hospital Google Scholar More articles by this author https://doi.org/10.15766/mep_2374-8265.9077 SectionsAbout ToolsDownload Citations ShareFacebookTwitterEmail AbstractAbstract Introduction: This workshop was designed as an instructional tool to foster development of the nondirective pregnancy options counseling competency, a competency identified as a “does” level for third-year medical students by the Association of Professors of Gynecology and Obstetrics in the ninth edition of its curricular objectives. Methods: The workshop consists of three modules that may be conducted independently or in combination with small or intermediate-sized groups of medical students. All the modules use challenging reproductive health scenarios as case material. The first module begins with two short trigger videos followed by structured discussion to provide an introduction to the core ethical issue of conscientious refusal, the limits of conscientious refusal in providing quality health care, and the connection between ethical breaches and errors in communication skills. The second module consists of a private values clarification exercise that may be further augmented with discussion. The third module uses the “helping trios role-play” technique to allow learners to practice the handling of ethical conflict with patients seeking objectionable medical interventions. Results: The workshop was used in our obstetrics and gynecology clerkship over 3 academic years with more than 300 students. In anonymous pre- and postworkshop questionnaires with 140 students, participants reported heightened self-awareness after participation, with 95% rating the exercise as educationally valuable and 84% reporting that they would approach patient care situations differently in the future as a result. Data showed improvement in some parameters of options counseling competency and overall improvement in verbal and nonverbal communication skills. Discussion: This 3 part session is intended to teach the ethical reasoning for professional handling of conscientious refusal and prepare students to maintain professionalism when finding themselves with ethical objection to a medical intervention that a patient requests or may need. Facilitators should be versed in patient centered communication and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Ethics committee opinion, competent in small and/or intermediate sized group facilitation skills, and facilitation of helping trios (for part 3 only.) Each part may stand alone as a separate exercise and/or small group discussion. Educational Objectives By the end of this workshop, learners will be able to: Identify and discuss the four limits to conscientious refusal as defined by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, as well as strategies at the institutional, systems, and individual practitioner levels to reduce the impact of individual provider conscientious refusal on patient care.Apply questions helpful in identifying personal emotions and values in situations of patient-provider moral conflict.Identify communications challenges to professionalism in situations of patient-provider conflict, especially delivery of the news of pregnancy and pregnancy options counseling.Improve communication skills in situations of ethical conflict through role-play and feedback. Sign up for the latest publications from MedEdPORTAL Add your email below FILES INCLUDEDReferencesRelatedDetails FILES INCLUDED Included in this publication: Workshop Outline and Tutor Guide - Conscientious Refusal.pdf Carrie.wmv Conscientious Refusal in Reproductive Medicine.pdf Evaluation Form.pdf Libby.wmv Reflections for PART 2.pdf Scenarios for PART 3.pdf Workshop Pre-Survey.pdf Worshop Post Survey.pdf To view all publication components, extract (i.e., unzip) them from the downloaded .zip file. Download editor’s noteThis publication may contain technology or a display format that is no longer in use. Copyright & Permissions© 2012 Lupi et al. This is an open-access publication distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-Share Alike license.KeywordsContraceptionConscientious RefusalAbortionInfertilityPregnancy Options Disclosures None to report. Funding/Support This research was supported by a grant from the Arsht Ethics and Community Program of the University of Miami and also by the Association of Professors of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Educational Scholars and Leaders Program. Prior Presentations Lupi CS, Estes CM, et al. Conscientious refusal in reproductive medicine: an educational intervention [Abstract, Association of Professors of Gynecology and Obstetrics-Council on Resident Education in Obstetrics and Gynecology Annual Meeting; San Diego, CA; March 11–14, 2009]. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2009;201:502:e1-e7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2009.05.056 Loading ...