Challenges and Benefits to Adapting the C.L.E.A.R. Conversations Curriculum for Physician-Patient Communication to an...

Effective communication is essential for patient care and physician development. Connect, Listen, Empathize, Align, Respect (C.L.E.A.R.) Conversations, developed at Henry Ford Health in 2012, is an evidence-based program using experiential learning methods-role play, feedback, and reflection-to build communication skills. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the program transitioned from in-person to virtual delivery. Few U.S. studies have explored challenges and opportunities from the perspectives of facilitators, graduate medical education (GME) partners, and administrators.

This exploratory qualitative study aimed to understand the experiences and perspectives of facilitators and administrators during the transition of C.L.E.A.R. Conversations to a virtual format. The purpose was to identify key opportunities, challenges, and strategies that supported this transition rather than to evaluate the benefits or compare virtual and in-person modalities, The study also sought to determine whether the adaptation process could inform a practical and scalable framework for other institutions, serving as both internal reflection and a foundation for hypothesis generation and future research in medical education.

Structured interviews with facilitators, GME partners, and administrators were conducted from April to June 2024 and analyzed through inductive content analysis by two independent coders.

Eleven participants described the adaptation process, yielding five main themes: Modifying Content and Delivery, Adapting to Virtual Format, Challenges and Mitigations, Benefits and Surprises, and Recommendations and Insights.

Findings highlight how facilitator and administrator perspectives can inform the thoughtful adaptation of experiential learning programs to virtual environments, offering a replicable framework for scalable, learner-centered communication training in GME.