Assessing the need for communication training for specialists in poison information

Area of Science:

• Toxicology
• Medical Communication
• Public Health

Background:

• Effective communication is crucial in healthcare, especially for poison control centers (PCCs) due to the lack of visual cues and the need for rapid information exchange.
• Professionals handling poison control calls often have extensive toxicology training but limited formal communication skills development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the perceived need for communication training among specialists in poison information (SPIs).
• To provide an empirical foundation for prioritizing the development of targeted communication training modules for SPIs.

Main Methods:

• An instrument was developed using focus groups and expert input to evaluate the necessity of communication training for SPIs.
• An online questionnaire was distributed to PCCs across the United States and Canada to gather data from respondents.

Main Results:

• 537 respondents, primarily SPIs/PIPs educated in nursing or pharmacy, emphasized the critical importance of communication skills for positive PCC call outcomes.
• Respondents reported that their training lacked a strong communication focus, and existing training was only moderately useful.
• Specific communication training units received high usefulness ratings, particularly from new SPIs, with directors also finding value in training for experienced staff.

Conclusions:

• Study findings underscore a significant need for enhanced communication training for SPIs.
• The research provides a data-driven basis for prioritizing and developing effective communication training modules tailored to the needs of PCC professionals.