The Implementation of Communication Didactics for OB/GYN Residents on the Disclosure of Adverse Perioperative Events

Patient Communication Innovations in Breast Imaging

Effective patient communication is paramount in breast radiology, where standardized reporting and patient-centered care practices have long been established. This communication profoundly affects patient experience, well-being, and adherence to medical advice. Breast radiologists play a pivotal role in conveying diagnostic findings and addressing patient concerns, particularly in the context of cancer diagnoses. Technological advances in radiology reporting, patient access to electronic medical records, and the demand for immediate information access have reshaped radiologists' communication practices. Innovative approaches, including image-rich reports, visual timelines, and video radiology reports, have been used in various institutions to enhance patient comprehension and engagement.

Enduring Positive Impact of a Virtual Communication Skills Workshop of VitalTalk Pedagogy in a Non-U.S. Setting

CONTEXT

While in-person workshops on serious illness communication skills using VitalTalk pedagogy have been shown to have a long-lasting impact, whether changing the format into virtual would maintain its enduring impact is unknown. Objectives. To examine long-term impacts of a virtual VitalTalk communication workshop.

METHODS

Physicians in Japan who participated in our virtual VitalTalk workshop were asked to complete a self-assessment survey at 3 time points: before, immediately after, and 2 months after the workshop. We examined self-reported preparedness in 11 communication skills on a 5-point Likert scale at 3 time points, as well as self-reported frequency of practice on 5 communication skills at the pre- and 2-month time points.

RESULTS

Between January 2021 and June 2022, 117 physicians from 73 institutions across Japan completed our workshop. Seventy-four participants returned the survey at all the 3 time points. Their skill preparedness significantly improved upon the completion of the workshop in all 11 skills (P < .001 for all items). The improvement remained at the same level at 2 months in 7 skills. In 4 of the 11 skills, there was further improvement at the 2-month point. The frequency of self-directed skill practice also increased significantly in the 2-month survey for all 5 skills.

CONCLUSION

A virtual workshop of VitalTalk pedagogy improved self-reported preparedness of communication skills, and the impact was long-lasting in a non-U.S. setting as it likely induced self-practice of skills. Our findings encourage the use of a virtual format in any geographical location considering its enduring impact and easy accessibility.

Analysis of patients' privacy and associated factors in the perioperative period

Background

Healthcare professionals recognize how to protect patient privacy in order to effectively reduce the occurrence of conflict between the two parties. Therefore, understanding the protection of patient privacy during the perioperative period and the relevant factors affecting privacy is essential to improving healthcare delivery.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional survey of a convenience sample of 400 perioperative patients. General demographic information, the perioperative privacy scale (PPS), and the Amsterdam preoperative anxiety and information scale (APAIS) were used for the survey. And factors affecting patient privacy were investigated by ANOVA or t-test analysis, Pearson correlation analysis, and linear regression models.

Results

This study found that perioperative patient privacy satisfaction scores were (53.51 ± 12.54). The results of the univariate analysis showed that factors affecting privacy satisfaction included gender, age, and the number of surgeries (p < 0.05). Preoperative anxiety and Information Needs Scale was negatively associated with the perioperative patient privacy satisfaction (r = -0.807, p < 0.01). Further analysis was performed using linear regression models to finally obtain five factors affecting perioperative patient privacy: gender, age, anesthesia modality, the number of surgeries, and the Amsterdam preoperative anxiety and information.

Conclusion

Healthcare professionals working in healthcare facilities need to be aware of the sensitivity of different populations to privacy when protecting patient privacy. Patients' preoperative anxiety and information need status affect privacy satisfaction. This will mean that healthcare professionals will be able to identify key privacy concerns early and take appropriate action.

How Do We Learn About Error? A Cross-Sectional Study of Urology Trainees

OBJECTIVE

This qualitative descriptive study aims to explore trainees' experiences of error disclosure (ED) during their surgical postgraduate training and the factors influencing the intention-behavior gap for ED.

DESIGN

This study employs an interpretivist methodology and a qualitative descriptive research strategy. Data were collected using focus group interviews. Data coding was performed by the principal investigator using Braun and Clarke's reflexive thematic analysis. Themes were developed from the data in a deductive manner. Analysis was carried out using NVivo 12.6.1.

SETTING

All participants were at various stages of an 8-year specialist program under the auspices of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. The training program involves clinical work in a teaching hospital under the supervision of senior doctors in their specialist field. Trainees attend mandatory communication skills training days throughout the program.

PARTICIPANTS

Study participants were recruited using purposive sampling from a sampling frame of 25 urology trainees on a national training scheme. Eleven trainees participated in the study.

RESULTS

Participants' stage of training ranged from first to final year. Seven key themes emerged from the data relating to the trainees' experiences of error disclosure and the intention-behavior gap for ED. These themes include observed positive and negative practice in the workplace, impact of stage of training, importance of interpersonal interactions, perceived blame/responsibility for multifactorial error or recognized complication, lack of formal training in ED, cultural aspects of the training environment and medicolegal issues around ED.

CONCLUSIONS

While trainees recognize the importance of ED, personal psychological factors, negative environmental culture, and medicolegal concerns are significant barriers to the practice of ED. A training environment that focuses on role-modelling and experiential learning with adequate time for reflection and debriefing is paramount. Areas for further research include broadening the scope of this study of ED across different medical and surgical subspecialties.

State of Communication Training During the Breast Imaging Fellowship Year

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to survey breast imaging fellowship programs nationally on the state of communication skills training during fellowship training.

METHODS

In this IRB-exempt study, fellowship program director members of the Society of Breast Imaging (SBI) were anonymously surveyed on current provision and types of communication skills training in their fellowship curricula.

RESULTS

A six-question survey was sent to all 95 SBI member fellowship program directors with a response rate of 56% (53/95). Although direct fellow patient-centered communication interactions are practiced across all respondent training programs, formal communication skills training was offered in a minority of programs with 32% (17/53) providing formal communication in the form of a didactic lecture and 17% (9/53) engaging fellows in a simulation communication skills workshop. Of the 53 programs, 12 (22%) reported no formal communication skills training of any kind, while a majority (44/53, 83%) of programs provide regular feedback based on observed fellow-patient communication interactions.

CONCLUSION

Despite nearly uniform practice of engaging breast imaging fellows in direct patient-centered interaction at the onset of the fellowship training year, the majority of fellowship programs do not provide any formal communication skills training curricula at any point during fellowship training. To equip future breast radiologists with the skills to provide value in an increasingly patient-centered field, dedicated formal communication curricula ought to be incorporated consistently into breast imaging fellowship training programs.

Topical Review: Teaching Serious News Delivery in Eye Care

SIGNIFICANCE

Eye doctors regularly convey serious illness news to their patients. There is an evolving understanding of how medical educators can effectively teach this vital communication skill during real-time patient care. This article proposes teaching strategies to improve clinical optometric education related to serious illness conversations.Effectively conveying serious illness news is an essential skill in optometry practice. Established protocols can help optometrists navigate these nuanced, emotional, and complex conversations with patients, yet protocols for teaching this skill in eye care settings have not been described. Clinical educators need discrete strategies for making such pivotal communication skills learnable in an environment where patient care, teaching priorities, and limited resources are regularly juggled. Despite the importance of this competency, limited study has focused on teaching optometry learners to deliver serious eye news. In this article, we explore the importance of optometry talk, serious news delivery tools, and considerations for optometric educators teaching serious news delivery. We then adapt specific strategies from medical education to help optometry educators teach serious news delivery in clinical settings.

Targeted Public Health Training for Neurosurgeons: An Essential Task for the Prioritization of Neurosurgery in the Evolving Global Health Landscape

The gap between the tremendous burden of neurological disease requiring surgical management and the limited capacity for neurosurgical care has fueled the growth of the global neurosurgical movement. It is estimated that an additional 23 300 neurosurgeons are needed to meet the burden posed by essential cases across the globe. Initiatives to increase neurosurgical capacity through systems strengthening and workforce development are key elements in correcting this deficit. Building on the growing interest in global health among neurosurgical trainees, we propose the integration of targeted public health education into neurosurgical training, in both high-income countries and low- and middle-income countries. This effort will ensure that graduates possess the fundamental skillsets and experience necessary to participate in and lead capacity-building efforts in the developing countries. This additional public health training can also help neurosurgical residents to achieve the core competencies outlined by accreditation boards, such as the Accreditation Committee on Graduate Medical Education in the United States. In this narrative review, we describe the global burden of neurosurgical disease, establish the need and role for the global neurosurgeon, and discuss pathways for implementing targeted global public health education in the field of neurosurgery.

Effectiveness of Communication Interventions in Obstetrics-A Systematic Review

(1) Background: Obstetric work requires good communication, which can be trained through interventions targeting healthcare providers and pregnant women/patients. This systematic review aims to aggregate the current state of research on communication interventions in obstetrics. (2) Methods: Using the PICOS scheme, we searched for studies published in peer-reviewed journals in English or German between 2000 and 2020. Out of 7018 results, 71 studies were included and evaluated in this synthesis using the Oxford Level of Evidence Scale. (3) Results: The 63 studies that included a communication component revealed a positive effect on different proximal outcomes (i.e., communication skills). Three studies revealed a beneficial effect of communication trainings on distal performance indicators (i.e., patient safety), but only to a limited extent. Most studies simultaneously examined different groups, however, those addressing healthcare providers were more common than those with students (61 vs. 12). Only nine studies targeted expectant mothers. Overall, the evidence level of studies was low (only 11 RCTs), with 24 studies with an evidence level I-II, 35 with level III, and 10 with level IV. (4) Conclusions: Communication trainings should be more frequently applied to improve communication of staff, students, and pregnant women and their partners, thereby improving patient safety.