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Koti S, Demyan L, Deperalta D, Tam S, Deutsch G. A Palliative Care Curriculum May Promote Resident Self-Reflection and Address Moral Injury. J Surg Res 2024; 301:29-36. [PMID: 38909475 DOI: 10.1016/j.jss.2024.05.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Revised: 05/10/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/25/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION There is a lack of formal palliative care education for surgical trainees, and the demanding nature of surgical training and exposure to challenging clinical scenarios can contribute to moral injury. We developed a palliative care curriculum to promote self-reflection, aiming to address moral injury in residents. METHODS Five 1-h palliative care sessions were delivered over the academic year to all post-graduate year (PGY) levels covering the following topics: personal awareness, delivering bad news, surgical palliation for cancer pathology, surgical palliation for noncancer pathology, and urgent palliative care. The curriculum focused on reflection and small group discussions. The Moral Injury Symptom Scale-Health Professional was administered to assess feelings of moral injury. Descriptive statistics, chi-squared analysis, and Mann-Whitney U-test were used to compare the demographics and survey responses. RESULTS 23 participants completed the preintervention survey, and 9 participants completed it postintervention. Over 50% of participants were PGY1 or PGY2 residents. Preintervention, 52% of participants reported feeling guilt over failing to save someone from being seriously injured or dying. 30% of participants reported that the feelings of guilt, shame, or distrust impaired their ability to function in relationships, at work, or other areas of life to at least a moderate degree. CONCLUSIONS The described palliative care curriculum accomplishes several goals as follows: it educates residents on palliative care topics, teaches communication tools, encourages self-reflection, and provides space for building peer relationships. The ease of implementation makes this curriculum applicable across various types of institutions, offering the potential to positively impact surgical training on a national scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shruti Koti
- Department of General Surgery, Northwell Health North Shore University Hospital/Long Island Jewish Medical Center, New Hyde Park, New York.
| | - Lyudmyla Demyan
- Department of General Surgery, Northwell Health North Shore University Hospital/Long Island Jewish Medical Center, New Hyde Park, New York
| | - Danielle Deperalta
- Department of General Surgery, Northwell Health North Shore University Hospital/Long Island Jewish Medical Center, New Hyde Park, New York; Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, New York
| | - Sophia Tam
- Department of General Surgery, Northwell Health North Shore University Hospital/Long Island Jewish Medical Center, New Hyde Park, New York; Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, New York
| | - Gary Deutsch
- Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, New York; Department of General Surgery, South Shore University Hospital, Bay Shore, New York
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Sendek G, Blum JD, Reghunathan M, Chen S, Luong TT, Gosman AA, Butler PD. Deconstructing the Excellent Plastic Surgeon: A Survey of Key Attributes. PLASTIC AND RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY-GLOBAL OPEN 2023; 11:e5460. [PMID: 38098952 PMCID: PMC10721122 DOI: 10.1097/gox.0000000000005460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
Background Most plastic surgeons practice in nonacademic settings, leaving a small subset of academic plastic surgeons with the responsibility of selecting the future generation of plastic surgeons without representation from a majority of our field. This raises questions as to whether the academic attributes valued during residency selection are valid predictive markers of who will become an excellent plastic surgeon. A survey was conducted of both academic and nonacademic plastic surgeons, as well as trainees, to determine what traits are considered most essential to being an excellent plastic surgeon. Methods An electronic survey was distributed before the American Council of Academic Plastic Surgeons 10th Annual Winter Meeting. Demographics and information regarding the respondents' training and academic status were collected. Respondents were asked to select five traits that they considered most important to be an excellent plastic surgeon from a list of 20 preselected traits. Chi-square and Fisher exact tests were used to perform subgroup analyses. Results A total of 187 responses were received from meeting attendees, representing an 89.0% response rate. Overall, the five values endorsed as most important for a plastic surgeon were being technically sound (53%), collaborative (48%), ethical (44%), compassionate (37%), and emotionally intelligent (33%). However, the emphasis placed on these different attributes differed significantly amongst different demographic groups. Conclusion It is important that we use methods such as holistic review when evaluating plastic surgery applicants to ensure our selection process is congruent with the traits we value.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela Sendek
- From the Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, Calif
| | - Jessica D Blum
- Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wis
| | - Meera Reghunathan
- From the Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, Calif
| | - Shirley Chen
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tenn
| | - Thanh T Luong
- From the Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, Calif
| | - Amanda A Gosman
- Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wis
| | - Paris D Butler
- Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Conn
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Yeh JC, Ambady L, Lewis R, Mehta AK, Asher A, Raj VS, Engle JP. Palliative Care Education in US Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Residency Programs: Current Practices, Perceived Needs, and Barriers. J Palliat Med 2023; 26:1128-1132. [PMID: 37335750 DOI: 10.1089/jpm.2022.0606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) clinicians commonly care for patients with serious illness/injury and would benefit from primary palliative care (PC) training. Objective: To assess current practices, attitudes, and barriers toward PC education among U.S. PM&R residencies. Design: This is a cross-sectional study utilizing an electronic 23-question survey. Setting/Subjects: Subjects were program leaders from U.S. PM&R residency programs. Results: Twenty-one programs responded (23% response). Only 14 (67%) offered PC education through lectures, elective rotations, or self-directed reading. Pain management, communication, and nonpain symptom management were identified as the most important PC domains for residents. Nineteen respondents (91%) felt residents would benefit from more PC education, but only five (24%) reported undergoing curricular change. Lack of faculty availability/expertise and teaching time were the most endorsed barriers. Conclusion: PC education is heterogeneous across PM&R programs despite its perceived value. PC and PM&R educators can collaborate to build faculty expertise and integrate PC principles into existing curricula.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan C Yeh
- Section of Palliative Care, Division of General Medicine and Primary Care, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Leena Ambady
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ryan Lewis
- Mayo Clinic Center for Palliative Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Ambereen K Mehta
- Palliative Care Program, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Arash Asher
- Patient and Family Support Program at the Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Vishwa S Raj
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Carolinas Rehabilitation, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Supportive Care, Levine Cancer Institute, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
| | - Jessica P Engle
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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Rubin MA, Riecke J, Heitman E. Futility and Shared Decision-Making. Neurol Clin 2023; 41:455-467. [PMID: 37407099 DOI: 10.1016/j.ncl.2023.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/07/2023]
Abstract
Medical futility is an ancient and yet consistent challenge in clinical medicine. The means of balancing conflicting priorities and stakeholders' preferences has changed as much as the science that powers the understanding and treatment of disease. The introduction of patient self-determination and choice in medical decision-making shifted the locus of power in the physician-patient relationship but did not obviate the physician's responsibilities to provide benefit and prevent harm. As we have refined the process in time, new paradigms, specialists, and tools have been developed to help navigate the ever-changing landscape.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael A Rubin
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390-8855, USA; Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390-8855, USA.
| | - Jenny Riecke
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390-8855, USA; Department of Palliative Care, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390-8855, USA
| | - Elizabeth Heitman
- Program in Ethics in Science and Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, NC5.832, Dallas, TX 75390-9070, USA; Department of Applied Clinical Research, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, NC5.832, Dallas, TX 75390-9070, USA
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Zucker BE, Leandro L, Forbes K, Blazeby JM, Chamberlain C. Training surgeons to optimize communication and symptom management in patients with life-limiting conditions: systematic review. BJS Open 2023; 7:zrad015. [PMID: 37104753 PMCID: PMC10129389 DOI: 10.1093/bjsopen/zrad015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Revised: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 01/22/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Surgeons routinely care for patients with life-limiting illness, requiring communication and symptom management skills supported by appropriate training. The objective of this study was to appraise and synthesize studies that assessed surgeon-directed training interventions that aimed to optimize communication and symptom management for patients with life-limiting illness. METHODS A PRISMA-concordant systematic review was undertaken. MEDLINE, Embase, Allied and Complementary Medicine Database (AMED), and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched from inception until October 2022 for studies reporting on the evaluation of surgeon-training interventions intending to improve surgeons' communication or symptom management of patients with life-limiting disease. Data on the design, trainer and patient participants, and the intervention were extracted. Risk of bias was assessed. RESULTS Of 7794 articles, 46 were included. Most studies employed a before-after approach (29 studies) and nine included control groups with five being randomized studies. General surgery was the most frequently included sub-specialty (22 studies). Trainers were described in 25 of 46 studies. Most training interventions aimed to improve communication skills (45 studies) and 13 different training interventions were described. Eight studies reported a measurable improvement in patient care, such as increased documentation of advance care discussions. Most study outcomes focused on surgeons' knowledge (12 studies), skills (21 studies), and confidence/comfort (18 studies) in palliative communication skills. Studies had a high risk of bias. CONCLUSION Whilst interventions exist to improve the training of surgeons managing patients with life-threatening conditions, evidence is limited, and studies measure the direct impact on patient care insufficiently. Improved research is needed to lead to better methods for training surgeons to benefit patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin E Zucker
- Population Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- Division of Surgery, University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol, UK
| | - Lorna Leandro
- Population Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- Division of Surgery, University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol, UK
| | - Karen Forbes
- Population Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Jane M Blazeby
- Population Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Charlotte Chamberlain
- Population Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- Department of Palliative Care, University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol, UK
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