Creating Middle Stage: Finding a New Space for Reflection within a Residency Program.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Health Communication
• Digital Learning

Background:

• Synchronous feedback systems for clinical communication training are costly and time-intensive.
• There is a need for accessible and effective alternatives to improve resident communication skills.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the utility of a secure web blog as an asynchronous tool for enhancing resident communication skills.
• To explore resident interactions and learning through a digital platform.

Main Methods:

• Residents recorded patient interactions, posting them to a secure blog.
• Peers reviewed and responded to these digital interactions via blog posts.
• Transcripts were analyzed using the constant comparative method.

Main Results:

• Five categories of resident message types emerged: narrative of the visit, visit issues, communication strategies, social support, and reflections on the experience.
• The blog facilitated peer-to-peer interaction and examination of communication dynamics.

Conclusions:

• A secure web blog provides a feasible and effective asynchronous learning opportunity for improving clinical communication skills in residency programs.
• This digital approach fosters reflection and peer learning in medical training.