Breaking bad news is a teachable skill in pediatric residents: A feasibility study of an educational intervention. Issue 6 (June 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Reed, Suzanne; Kassis, Karyn; Nagel, Rollin; Verbeck, Nicole; Mahan, John D.; Shell, Richard
• Is Part Of: Patient education and counseling. Volume 98:Issue 6(2015)
• Page Start: 748
• Page End: 752
• Publication Date: 2015-06
• Subjects: Patient education -- Periodicals; Health counseling -- Periodicals; Health education -- Periodicals; Counseling -- Periodicals; Patient Education -- Periodicals; Éducation des patients -- Périodiques; Counseling -- Périodiques; Éducation sanitaire -- Périodiques; 615.5071
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pec.2015.02.015
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0738-3991

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="author" id="abs0005"> <title id="sect0005">Abstract</title> <sec> <title id="sect0010">Objective</title> <p id="spar0005">Patients and physicians identify communication of bad news as a skill in need of improvement. Our objectives were to measure change in performance of first-year pediatric residents in the delivery of bad news after an educational intervention and to measure if changes in performance were sustained over time.</p> </sec> <sec> <title id="sect0015">Methods</title> <p id="spar0010">Communication skills of 29 residents were assessed via videotaped standardized patient (SP) encounters at 3 time points: baseline, immediately post-intervention, and 3 months post-intervention. Educational intervention used was the previously published "GRIEV_ING Death Notification Protocol."</p> </sec> <sec> <title id="sect0020">Results</title> <p id="spar0015">The intraclass correlation coefficient demonstrated substantial inter-rater agreement with the assessment tool. Performance scores significantly improved from baseline to immediate post-intervention. Performance at 3 months post-intervention showed no change in two subscales and small improvement in one subscale.</p> </sec> <sec> <title id="sect0025">Conclusions</title> <p id="spar0020">We concluded that breaking bad news is a complex and teachable skill that can be developed in pediatric residents. Improvement was sustained over time, indicating the utility of this educational intervention.</p> </sec> <sec> <title id="sect0030">Practice implications</title> <p id="spar0025">This study brings attention to the need for improved communication training, and the feasibility of an education intervention in a large training program. Further work in development of comprehensive communication curricula is necessary in pediatric graduate medical education programs.</p> </sec> </abstract>