Interprofessional shared learning: a workshop on communication for screening blood donors

Abstract

AbstractThe importance of effective communication in healthcare is well documented. Teaching and learning about communication now forms part of the education of most healthcare professionals in the United Kingdom. Based on this premise, a workshop was developed that aimed at developing the communication skills of donor carers or those involved in their training and/or management within the National Blood Service (NBS). Donor carers are the public front of the NBS, conducting interviews with donors, taking blood and providing follow‐up care. The 2 day workshop used a range of educational activities to support participants in meeting learning objectives. The workshop was evaluated by pre‐ and post‐tests of knowledge and attitude and by participants’ ratings of the degree to which they met learning objectives. Participants’ levels of propositional knowledge in relation to donor‐centred interviewing remained unchanged after the workshop. However, baseline knowledge was already very high. Ratings of the degree to which participants met learning objectives revealed success in the key areas of the workshop – that is, knowledge of, and the practice of, communication skills. Participants reported that they had benefited from attending the workshop in both personal and professional domains, and some expressed a strong sense of personal achievement. There were no differences in participants’ ratings based on their professional group or function within the NBS. Future workshops could consider reducing the number of participants, incorporating skills assessments and offering follow‐up meeting(s) reflecting the participants’ identified needs.