Impact Of Brief Training Research Articles

Exploring the impact of brief training on student pharmacists' naloxone communication skills

ObjectiveTo explore: a) whether videos that model naloxone communication skills improve student pharmacists' naloxone knowledge, self-efficacy and communication skills and b) whether outcomes differ between video versus written materials. MethodsStudent pharmacists (N = 31) were randomized to either video or written materials training. Changes in naloxone dispensing barriers, self-efficacy, and naloxone knowledge were assessed via survey, while changes in naloxone communication were measured with a standardized patient assessment. ResultsFor the entire sample, knowledge and self-efficacy significantly increased and barriers to dispensing decreased. Communication improved significantly in both groups. In unadjusted analyses, students with video resources reported higher self-efficacy post-training. However, analyses that controlled for demographic characteristics and baseline measures found that training type did not significantly predict any outcome. ConclusionBrief written or video-based naloxone training improved students' knowledge, self-efficacy, and communication. Given the small sample, results are inconclusive regarding impact of training material type on outcomes. InnovationTeaching student pharmacists how to communicate about naloxone is important given increasing opioid overdose death rates. This study was innovative because it examined the impact of two training material types that can be delivered asynchronously and that pharmacy programs could incorporate into their curricula to improve students' naloxone communication skills.

Investigating the impact of brief training in decision-making on treatment escalation to intensive care using objective structured clinical examination-style scenarios.

The decision to admit patients to the intensive care unit (ICU) is complex. Structuring the decision-making process may be beneficial to patients and decision-makers alike. The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility and impact of a brief training intervention on ICU treatment escalation decisions using the Warwick model- a structured decision-making framework for treatment escalation decisions. Treatment escalation decisions were assessed using Objective Structured Clinical Examination-style scenarios. Participants were ICU and anaesthetic registrars with experience of making ICU admission decisions. Participants completed one scenario, followed by training with the decision-making framework and subsequently a second scenario. Decision-making data was collected using checklists, note entries and post-scenario questionnaires. Twelve participants were enrolled. Brief decision-making training was successfully delivered during the normal ICU working day. Following training participants demonstrated greater evidence of balancing the burdens and benefits of treatment escalation. On visual analogue scales of 0-10, participants felt better trained to make treatment escalation decisions (4.9 vs 6.8, p = 0.017) and felt their decision-making was more structured (4.7 vs 8.1, p = 0.017).Overall, participants provided positive feedback and reported feeling more prepared for the task of making treatment escalation decisions. Our findings suggest that a brief training intervention is a feasible way to improve the decision-making process by improving decision-making structure, reasoning and documentation. Training was implemented successfully, acceptable to participants and participants were able to apply their learning. Further studies of regional and national cohorts are needed to determine if training benefit is sustained and generalisable.

Motivational interviewing training for medical students: A pilot pre-post feasibility study

ObjectiveTo evaluate the impact of brief training in motivational interviewing (MI) from a non-specialist professional for medical students. MethodsStudents (n = 20) received three four-hour sessions of MI training over one week. They interviewed caregivers acting as patients in two standardised medical situations, six weeks before and three weeks after training. Global scores from the MITI-3.1.1 code, including “MI- Spirit”, were attributed to the audiotaped interviews by two independent coders, blind the pre- or post-training status of the interview. Secondary outcomes were: caregivers’ perception of students’ empathy (CARE questionnaire), students’ evaluation of self-efficacy to engage in a patient-centred relationship (SEPCQ score), and students’ satisfaction with their own performance (analogue scale). ResultsMI-Spirit score increased significantly after training (p < 0.0001, effect size 1.5). Limited improvements in CARE score (p = 0.034, effect size 0.5) and one of the SEPCQ dimensions (sharing information and power with the patient; p = 0.047, effect size 0.5) were also noted. Students’ satisfaction score was unaffected (p = 0.69). ConclusionThese findings suggest that brief MI training can improve communication skills in medical students. Practice implicationsSuch an intervention is feasible and could be generalised during medical studies.

Impact of brief communication training among hospital social workers

ABSTRACTHospital social workers are often the fulcrum of communication between physicians, patients, and families especially when patients are facing life-threatening illness. This study aims to understand the impact of a brief training for hospital social workers. The training is designed to improve communication skills and self-efficacy, as well as lessen fears of death and dying. Repeated-measures tests were used to assess outcomes across three time points. Twenty-nine university-based hospital social workers participated. Results trended in the desired directions. Communication self-efficacy improved immediately following the training, and this was sustained 1 month following training completion. Although participants were relatively experienced, improvement was still demonstrated and maintained suggesting brief communication training is promising for hospital social workers across the career.

Coping when pain is a potential threat: The efficacy of acceptance versus cognitive distraction

This experiment investigated the impact of brief training in acceptance versus distraction-based pain management on experimental pain tolerance in conditions of lower and higher potential threats. One hundred fifty-one pain-free Chinese adults (93 women, 58 men) randomly assigned to acceptance, distraction or pain education control conditions engaged in a cold pressor test (CPT) after reading validated orienting information designed to prime either the safety of the CPT (lower threat) or symptoms and damaging effects of exposure to extreme cold (higher threat). A 2 (threat level) × 3 (training strategy) analysis of covariance, controlling for pre-intervention pain tolerance and education, indicated the acceptance group was more pain tolerant than other training groups. This main effect was qualified by an interaction with threat level: in the lower threat condition, acceptance group participants were more pain tolerant than peers in the distraction or pain education groups while no training group differences were found in the higher threat condition. Supplementary analyses identified catastrophizing as a partial mediator of training group differences in pain tolerance. In summary, findings suggested acceptance-based coping is superior to distraction as a means of managing experimental pain, particularly when pain sensations are viewed as comparatively low in potential threat.

The treatment of postnatal depression by health visitors: impact of brief training on skills and clinical practice

Background: Postnatal depression can be effectively treated by cognitive behavioural counselling (CBC), a simple intervention designed to be delivered by non-specialists in mental health. Methods: Health visitors were trained in CBC and post-training changes in counselling skills, clinical practice and costs were assessed. Results: Following training health visitors showed improved counselling skills, and they carried out more mental health assessments, recorded mental symptoms more often and treated more women themselves. However, their mean number of contacts with depressed women did not change; and the number of urgent contacts diminished. Referrals to general practitioners did not increase but there was an increase in referrals to mental health services. Costs to health visitor practice did not increase. Limitations: Assessment of clinical practice was based on health visitor records. The study uses a ‘before and after’ design rather than randomisation of subjects. Conclusions: Training health visitors in CBC leads to improved counselling skills and corresponding changes in clinical practice, without increasing the costs of health visitor practice.

Stages of Change training for opportunistic smoking intervention by the primary health care team. Part II: qualitative evaluation of long-term impact on professionals' reported behaviour

This paper presents and critically evaluates data on the long-term impact of brief training for the primary health care team in facilitating smoking behav iour change with patients. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with one third ( n = 23) of training participants one year after taking part in a brief, one-day workshop to enhance the abilities of the primary care team in facilitating smoking behaviour change. The impact of brief training for the primary care team is premised on the health professionals' acceptance of the content and relevance of the training, the enhancement of professional self- efficacy, their definition of their role in health promotion work, their own smoking status, and their readiness to change clinical practice/behaviour. It is also dependent on professionals' capacity to refrain from using ineffective methods which may cancel out the benefits gained by learning and using more effective strategies. Future training workshops or courses for primary health care professionals in health promotion work should be tailored to individual participants' needs as their readiness to change clinical practice must be acknowledged rather than using a global approach which can result in a diluted impact.