Stimulating reflective practice using collaborative reflective training in breaking bad news simulations.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Healthcare Simulation
• Psychology in Medicine

Background:

• Medical simulation is vital for skill development, with debriefing crucial for deep learning.
• Trainee defensiveness and anxiety can arise from vulnerability and performance evaluation, especially in sensitive scenarios like breaking bad news (BBN).
• Inadequate training exists for BBN, a common and challenging medical communication task.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce Collaborative Reflective Training (CRT) as a novel approach for BBN training.
• To facilitate open dialogue and self-reflection in medical trainees during simulation.
• To mitigate anxiety and defensiveness associated with experiential learning in sensitive communication skills.

Main Methods:

• CRT was developed drawing from family therapy principles.
• The approach was implemented with a mixed team of neonatology/pediatric fellows and medical family therapy interns.
• The study describes the conceptual framework and application of CRT in a BBN simulation context.

Main Results:

• CRT aims to create a safe space for trainees to explore their internal processes and decision-making.
• The method encourages deeper self-reflection beyond rote skill review.
• The approach is designed to enhance trainees' ability to handle complex interpersonal communication.

Conclusions:

• CRT offers a structured method to improve BBN training through enhanced reflection and dialogue.
• This approach can potentially reduce trainee anxiety and defensiveness in high-stakes communication scenarios.
• Further application and study of CRT can refine its use in medical education and simulation.