Miguel Barbosa1, Lidia Del Piccolo2, António Barbosa3. 1. Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal. Electronic address: mbarbosa@medicina.ulisboa.pt. 2. Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Italy. Electronic address: lidia.delpiccolo@univr.it. 3. Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal. Electronic address: abarbosa@netcabo.pt.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of a brief training program in relational/communication skills (RCS) for medical residents. METHODS: This longitudinal study enrolled 64 medical residents who participated in a RCS training program in small groups. Teaching was based on interviews with standardized patients and reflective practice. Video-recorded consultations were coded according to the Verona-Coding-Definitions-of-Emotional-Sequences (VR-CoDES) and a coding system developed to assess ten communication skills for breaking bad news. The outcome measures were: independent raters' score in RCS for breaking bad news and the percentage of providing space and empathic responses, by comparing baseline (T1) skills with those after three-days (T2) and three-months (T3). RESULTS: After the training program residents provided more space for further disclosure of cues and concerns according to VR-CoDES definitions. There were significant improvements in seven of the ten communication skills for breaking bad news. All of these improvements were observed either at T2 or at T3. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates the effectiveness of a brief RCS training program designed to improve medical residents' ability to respond appropriately to patients' cues and concerns and to conduct a breaking bad news encounter. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Brief RCS training programs adopting multiple approaches, should be offered as mandatory during residency programs.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of a brief training program in relational/communication skills (RCS) for medical residents. METHODS: This longitudinal study enrolled 64 medical residents who participated in a RCS training program in small groups. Teaching was based on interviews with standardized patients and reflective practice. Video-recorded consultations were coded according to the Verona-Coding-Definitions-of-Emotional-Sequences (VR-CoDES) and a coding system developed to assess ten communication skills for breaking bad news. The outcome measures were: independent raters' score in RCS for breaking bad news and the percentage of providing space and empathic responses, by comparing baseline (T1) skills with those after three-days (T2) and three-months (T3). RESULTS: After the training program residents provided more space for further disclosure of cues and concerns according to VR-CoDES definitions. There were significant improvements in seven of the ten communication skills for breaking bad news. All of these improvements were observed either at T2 or at T3. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates the effectiveness of a brief RCS training program designed to improve medical residents' ability to respond appropriately to patients' cues and concerns and to conduct a breaking bad news encounter. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Brief RCS training programs adopting multiple approaches, should be offered as mandatory during residency programs.