Simulating an End-of-Life Care Conference Using Standardized Patients: Examining Students' Professional Communication

Abstract

Purpose: Lack of preparation for working with patients near the end of life (EoL) can lead to poor outcomes for patients and burnout for clinicians. Additionally, graduate students must also receive preparation in professional communication skills necessary for family and interprofessional interactions. Simulation provides an opportunity to practice and demonstrate these skills in a safe environment. This study examined student performance and perceptions following a simulation of clinical communication in the context of an EoL care (EoLC) conference discussion. Method: By utilizing a formative simulation with standardized patients, students demonstrated skills associated with navigating an EoLC conference discussion. The supervising educators and standardized patients evaluated students on their clinical communication and debriefing skills through rubrics. Students also provided feedback on the simulation experience. Results: Results from this simulation indicated that most students demonstrated effective clinical communication skills. Judgments from educators and standardized patients corroborate students' skill demonstration in the areas of content delivery, delivering compassionate care, communicating evidence, representing their roles, and reflection. Students struggled more in the areas of terminology use and using summary and validation skills. Student feedback about the simulation was resoundingly positive. Students remarked how the simulation advanced their learning, helped them reflect on their clinical communication skills, and provided them with exposure to fragile medical patients. Conclusion: This study provides an example of a high-fidelity replicable simulation that can be implemented to measure and encourage student skill development in clinical communication and EoLC.