Right-sizing interprofessional team training for serious-illness communication: A strength-based approach

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Communication Skills Training
• Interprofessional Healthcare

Background:

• Palliative care communication is crucial for aligning patient care with their goals.
• A shortage of palliative care physicians necessitates training non-physicians in these essential skills.
• Traditional training programs have primarily focused on physicians, excluding other healthcare professionals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To adapt and evaluate a palliative care communication skills training for interprofessional teams.
• To assess the impact of the training on participants' communication abilities and interprofessional collaboration.
• To introduce a team-based component using Applied Improvisation into the training.

Main Methods:

• Conducted workshops focused on palliative care communication and interprofessional communication skills.
• Utilized validated surveys measuring empathy (Interpersonal Reactivity Index, Ekman Faces, Consultation and Relational Empathy), and interprofessional practice.
• Incorporated Applied Improvisation as a team-based training component.

Main Results:

• Participants reported significant improvements in listening (p < 0.001), understanding patient concerns (p < 0.001), and showing compassion (p = 0.008).
• The training enhanced the perceived value of peer observation (p < 0.001) and reflective practice (p = 0.02) during complex discussions.
• All participants affirmed the importance of active listening and reported improved interprofessional teamwork, despite varied communication goals.

Conclusions:

• The adapted training effectively equipped 71 clinicians, predominantly non-physicians, in serious illness and interprofessional communication.
• The program's success demonstrates its replicability in similar healthcare settings.
• This interprofessional approach offers a viable solution to enhance palliative care communication amidst physician shortages.