Abstract
PURPOSE: To evaluate the change in obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN) resident’s self-confidence in delivering serious news after a communication simulation workshop. BACKGROUND: Although OB/GYN residents regularly disclose serious news to patients, formal training on best communication practices is lacking. Using the VitalTalk framework, we developed and evaluated a workshop for delivering serious news in OB/GYN. METHODS: OB/GYN residents attended a 3-hour small group workshop, with didactic and drills (1 hour) followed by practice delivering serious news with simulated patients (2 hours). Change in self-confidence pre- and post-workshop was measured using a 5-point Likert scale (1 is lowest, 5 is highest) and was compared using Wilcoxon signed rank test (alpha = 0.05). RESULTS: Twenty-five residents completed the training. Residents agreed that delivering serious news requires a discrete set of skills (89%) and is a procedure all residents should learn (96%). Following the workshop, residents expressed greater confidence explaining medical information (P<.01), identifying and responding to emotion cues (P<.01), delivering serious news (P<.001), and teaching learners about how to facilitate delivering serious news (P<.001). Residents felt that it taught them skills they plan to use (96%), that simulated practice prepared them better than clinical experience alone (92%), that observing other residents improved their own communication skills (80%) and that they would recommend the workshop (96%). DISCUSSION: This workshop was well received and associated with improvement in self-confidence in delivering serious news. Longer-term observation is needed to see if this confidence persists and translates into improved patient care.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
