Explicit Training in Systematic Communication Strategies: A Pilot Study Exploring the Incorporation of Communication...

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Physician Communication Skills
• Patient-Centered Care

Background:

• Physician communication training varies, with limited data on skill application and perceived usefulness in clinical practice.
• Effective communication is crucial for patient safety and outcomes, yet its integration into daily practice remains a challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess how first-year Internal Medicine residents apply specific communication strategies after explicit instruction.
• To evaluate the use and perceived utility of these strategies in a simulated medical error disclosure and in actual clinical practice.

Main Methods:

• Residents received training in 7 systematic communication strategies.
• Skill application was evaluated through a medical error disclosure simulation.
• Post-training surveys assessed strategy use and usefulness at 6 months.

Main Results:

• The trained group demonstrated significantly more behaviors for establishing patient understanding in simulations.
• 100% of respondents reported using Ask-Tell-Ask, open-ended questioning, and Teach-back in practice.
• 96% found the communication strategies useful, with 79% reporting frequent use.

Conclusions:

• Explicit instruction in systematic communication strategies is an efficient method for early-career physicians.
• Strategies focused on patient understanding are readily implementable in clinical training and practice.
• Effective communication skills training can be successfully integrated into residency programs.