Objective: There are few opportunities in medical education dedicated to learning skills for effective communication in life altering patient scenarios. We therefore aimed to develop and assess a longitudinal advanced communication curriculum for pediatric residents using patient feedback and deliberate practice.
Methods: Pediatric residents at a large academic center were randomized into 2 groups. The intervention group received 6 educational sessions from 2019 to 2020, parent feedback of performance via the Communication Assessment Tool (CAT), and monthly communication tips. Communication skills of both groups were assessed at the end of the intervention.
Results: We collected 937 CAT assessments on 36 first-year residents. The intervention group demonstrated statistically significant improvement in communication skills from pre to post assessment (p = 0.0063, (odds ratio (OR) 1.76, 95 % confidence interval (CI) [1.17, 2.63]) compared to the control group (p = 0.080, OR 1.41, 95 % CI [0.96, 2.05]).
Conclusions: There are patient and self-identified performance gaps in communication skills for pediatric residents, underscoring the need for formalized curricula dedicated to these skills.
Practice implications: Our study highlights the value of deliberate practice and the integration of family feedback as an educational tool in communication skills development.
Keywords: Communication; Family-centered; Pediatrics; Residents; Simulation.
Published by Elsevier B.V.