Peds OncoTalk: A Curriculum to Teach Communication Skills to Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Fellows

Peds OncoTalk is a novel curriculum for Pediatric Hematology/Oncology (PHO) fellows to learn key communication skills to deliver cancer care using validated principles. Interpersonal and communication skills are core competencies for Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)-accredited PHO fellowship.

A 3-day, virtual course emphasizing skill practice in small groups with simulated patients was created. Participants completed pre- and postsurveys to measure reported preparedness with skills on a 5-point Likert scale. The course teaches responding to emotion, delivering serious news, mapping values, and proposing a values-based plan. Didactic sessions were followed by simulated patient cases facilitated by Vital Talk Faculty. PHO-specific content: 1. New diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia; 2. Adolescent patient with relapsed osteosarcoma; 3. End-of-life care for child with progressive diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma.

Eighteen fellows from six ACGME-accredited institutions participated. Learners reported improved confidence in all measured skills: deliver serious news (pre 3.33, post 4.44, mean difference 1.11, p < 0.01); explore values to develop a treatment plan (pre 2.78, post 4.39, p < 0.01); and propose a values-concordant plan (pre 2.94, post 4.28, p < 0.01). Sixteen of 18 (89%) fellows stated agree to strongly agree when asked if the course should be required training. All fellows (100%) responded that content was relevant to training.

Formal, simulated communication training improves confidence in fundamental communication skills for PHO fellows. Fellows reported this training should be required. The virtual platform provides improved accessibility. These skills are critical to providing values-based care to a vulnerable population, and the course should be integrated into PHO training.