Communication training for inter‐specialty clinicians

Abstract

Fifteen clinicians, including eight critical care faculty members (80% of eligible participants), three subspecialty faculty members (100% of eligible participants) and four nurse-practitioners (100% of eligible participants), participated. Learners' self-reported confidence improved in all communication metrics assessed. From pre- to post-workshop, confidence increased from 39% to 94% for 'giving bad news' (p < 0.05), from 50% to 83% for 'conducting a family conference' (p < 0.05), and from 39% to 100% for 'eliciting a family's values/preferences (p < 0.05). Every learner rated the workshop as important to their clinical practice and 100% would strongly recommend it to others. All reported the time commitment was not burdensome and 74% would choose this 2-day format over shorter formats. When clinicians learn together, they are more likely to speak the same language when communicating with each other, and ultimately to deliver the same message to families CONCLUSIONS: An inter-specialty communication training workshop for different types of clinician was well received. It is feasible to co-train different types of clinician in a joint session. When clinicians learn together, they are more likely to speak the same language when communicating with each other, and ultimately to deliver the same message to families.