Communication Skills Training for Anesthesiology Residents

Overseen By Heather Ballard, MD

Age: 18 - 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Ann & Robert H Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago

Disqualifiers: Participant refusal, prior course, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 2

80 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores whether a specific training approach, called mastery learning in communication skills, can enhance communication skills for anesthesiology residents. The researchers aim to determine if this training improves residents' interactions in both simulated environments and real-life medical situations. Additionally, the trial investigates whether this training can help reduce feelings of burnout. Residents currently rotating at Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital who have not taken a similar course before may be suitable candidates for this study. Participants will be divided into two groups: one receiving mastery training and the other following standard learning methods. As an unphased study, this trial offers a unique opportunity to enhance skills and potentially reduce burnout.

Do I need to stop my current medications for this trial?

The trial protocol does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What prior data suggests that this communication skills training is safe for anesthesiology residents?

Research shows that training in communication skills using simulations is safe. Studies have found that this training helps anesthesiologists deliver difficult news more effectively to patients and their families, making the training both well-received and helpful.

Simulation training also improves patient safety by enhancing both technical and communication skills in anesthesia. Participants practice in a realistic setting without any risk to real patients.

Overall, studies indicate that learning communication skills through simulations is not only safe but also effective in improving essential skills in medical settings. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the Mastery Learning in Communication Skills training because it aims to enhance the way anesthesiology residents communicate with patients and colleagues. Unlike traditional training methods that might be more passive or less structured, this approach focuses on active, repeated practice until the skills are mastered. This method could lead to better patient interactions and improve overall clinical outcomes, making it a promising addition to current training programs. The hope is that by mastering these essential communication skills, residents will be better prepared for real-world scenarios, ultimately enhancing patient care and safety.

What evidence suggests that mastery learning in communication skills is effective for improving anesthesiology residents' skills?

Research shows that practicing communication skills can greatly help anesthesiologists manage tough conversations. In this trial, participants in the Mastery Learning Group will receive special training using practice scenarios to improve their ability to deliver bad news to patients and families. One study found that trainees improved their communication skills, with more achieving top scores after similar training. These studies suggest that practice-based learning can enhance communication skills, which are essential for anesthesiologists in both practice and real-life situations. ^{2 3 6 7 8}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Heather Ballard, MD

Principal Investigator

Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for anesthesiology residents at Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, aiming to see if special training in communication can improve their skills and reduce burnout.

Inclusion Criteria

Anesthesiology residents rotating at Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago

Exclusion Criteria

I have chosen not to participate in this trial.

Study participants who have already undergone the mastery learning in difficult conversations course.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Training

Participants undergo mastery learning in communication skills or standard of care (vicarious learning) in a simulated environment

1 year

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for improvements in communication skills, milestone performance, and burnout levels

2 years

Assessments at 2 and 6 months post-training

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Mastery Learning in Communication Skills

Trial Overview The study tests whether a 'mastery learning' approach to communication skills can enhance performance in simulations and real clinical settings, compared to the usual vicarious learning methods.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Mastery Learning Group Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Group II: Standard of Care Group Active Control 1 Intervention

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Ann & Robert H Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago

Lead Sponsor

Trials

275

Recruited

5,182,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

A pilot program at George Washington University trained 7 first-year anesthesiology residents in interpersonal and communication skills using the Relationship Express model, which included experiential learning exercises and feedback from faculty and standardized patients.

Feedback from the residents indicated that the program effectively simulated real clinical time constraints and highlighted the importance of body language, suggesting that the model has potential value for improving communication skills in medical training, although further assessment with more participants is needed.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Relationship express: a pilot program to teach anesthesiology residents communication skills. Berger, JS., Blatt, B., McGrath, B., et al.[2023]

A study involving 14 obstetrics and gynecology residents showed that their ability to disclose adverse outcomes to patients significantly improved after participating in a formal teaching workshop, with scores increasing from an average of 59.1% to 80.1%.

The use of an objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) effectively assessed the residents' communication skills, highlighting its value in medical education for teaching and evaluating sensitive communication practices.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Assessing residents' communication skills: disclosure of an adverse event to a standardized patient. Posner, G., Nakajima, A.[2022]

An online patient survey was developed to evaluate the communication skills of anesthesia residents, showing a significant improvement in overall ratings after implementing a simulation-based curriculum.

The median overall rating for residents increased from 3.86 to 3.91 after the intervention, indicating that the customized training had a positive impact on their communication skills.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Customizable Curriculum to Enhance Resident Communication Skills. Mitchell, JD., Ku, C., Lutz, B., et al.[2020]

A needs assessment conducted at Dalhousie Medical School revealed that both learners and faculty recognized the importance of communication skills training (CST) but identified significant weaknesses in its delivery and assessment, indicating a gap in the existing curriculum.

Following the assessment, an integrated CST program was successfully implemented in 1998, and early evaluations showed positive results across pre-clinical, clerkship, and postgraduate levels, highlighting the program's effectiveness and the need for ongoing faculty development and support.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Implementing a communication skills programme in medical school: needs assessment and programme change. Laidlaw, TS., MacLeod, H., Kaufman, DM., et al.[2019]

A new simulation and web-based curriculum for communication skills was implemented for anesthesia residents, addressing a gap in their training.

Patient feedback showed significant improvement in residents' communication skills after the curriculum, indicating its potential effectiveness in enhancing patient care.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Impact of a Resident Communication Skills Curriculum on Patients' Experiences of Care. Mitchell, JD., Ku, C., Wong, V., et al.[2016]

Effective communication between anesthesiologists and patients is crucial, especially given the unique challenges of brief interactions and high patient anxiety before procedures, which differ from primary care settings.

A tailored workshop using the 4E Model (Engage, Empathize, Educate, Enlist) was developed to enhance communication skills among anesthesiology trainees, addressing both essential communication elements and ACGME competency requirements.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A Workshop in Physician-Patient Communication for Anesthesiology Trainees. Eggly, S., Chidiac, EJ., Zestos, M.[2020]

A survey of 247 anaesthetists revealed that adverse patient safety events significantly impacted their well-being, with many reporting stress, anxiety, and decreased professional confidence after such incidents.

Despite a majority of anaesthetists feeling determined to improve safety, many did not report incidents due to concerns about the effectiveness of reporting systems and fear of punitive actions, highlighting a need for better support and improvements in incident reporting mechanisms.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A survey of the impact of patient adverse events and near misses on anaesthetists in Australia and New Zealand. Harrison, R., Lee, H., Sharma, A.[2019]

A structured communication skills training workshop significantly improved the self-assessed communication abilities of 20 pediatric residents, indicating that such training is effective in enhancing their skills.

Before the workshop, most residents felt their communication skills were inadequate, highlighting the need for incorporating structured communication training into pediatric postgraduate education.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effectiveness of communication skills training on perceptions and practice of pediatric residents. Geeta, MG., Krishnakumar, P., Rajasree, KC., et al.[2022]

A pilot program called CASE was implemented for 26 first-year internal medicine residents to enhance their communication skills through practical exercises with standardized patients, resulting in increased confidence and valuable feedback for the residents.

The program was well-received by both residents and faculty, providing an effective method for assessing and teaching clinical communication skills, while also aiding in curricular development and faculty training.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A communication assessment and skill-building exercise (CASE) for first-year residents. Roth, CS., Watson, KV., Harris, IB.[2019]

An educational intervention for anesthesiology residents significantly increased the number of adverse event reports from 0 to nearly 30 per quarter, highlighting improved engagement in patient safety practices.

The training not only enhanced residents' knowledge and skills in reporting but also positively shifted their attitudes towards the importance of reporting, leading to better identification of unsafe conditions and opportunities for process improvements in anesthesia care.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

An assessment of an educational intervention on resident physician attitudes, knowledge, and skills related to adverse event reporting. Jericho, BG., Tassone, RF., Centomani, NM., et al.[2021]

The OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Examination) developed by Wayne State University effectively assessed the communication skills of second-year residents (PRG-2), showing that their performance predicted their year-end scores in Systems-Based Practice (SBP) competencies, particularly in coordinating patient care and working in interdisciplinary teams.

In contrast, the communication skills of first-year residents (PRG-1) did not correlate with their SBP milestone scores, indicating that the OSCE may be more effective for evaluating the competencies of more experienced residents.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

An Objective Structured Clinical Examination Case for Opioid Management: Standardized Patient Ratings of Communication Skills as a Predictor of Systems-Based Practice Scores. Kenaga, H., Markova, T., Stansfield, RB., et al.[2021]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10502581/

Use of Simulation-Based Mastery Learning Curriculum to ... Our study showed that a difficult conversation SBML curriculum significantly improved anesthesiologists' skills in conveying bad news to patients and families.

2. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40815157/

Anesthesiology Milestones 1.0: Residents' Learning ... Results: The analyses included 11,691 residents from 153 training programs. Among 6696 clinical anesthesia year 3 residents, 98.3% received at ...

3. researchgate.net researchgate.net/publication/394503160_Anesthesiology_Milestones_10_Residents'_Learning_Trajectories_and_Training_Outcomes

Anesthesiology Milestones 1.0: Residents' Learning ... RESULTS The analyses included 11,691 residents from 153 training programs. Among 6696 clinical anesthesia year 3 residents, 98.3% received at ...

4. bmcmededuc.biomedcentral.com bmcmededuc.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12909-025-07236-1

Effectiveness of scaffolded case-based learning in ... This study aims to compare an integrated scaffolded case-based learning approach with traditional lecture-based teaching that utilizes the same clinical case ...

5. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12142583/

Improving Trainee Communication Methods in ... Whereas zero residents received an excellent score prior to the intervention, 42.8% of residents demonstrated improvement to the excellent score ...

6. bjaed.org bjaed.org/article/S2058-5349(23)00140-3/fulltext

The role of simulation training in patients' safety ... Simulation has a demonstrated effect on patients' safety for technical and non-technical skills training in anaesthesia.

7. seahq.org seahq.org/sead-grant-previous-recipients

SEAd Grant Previous Recipients Our pilot data suggests that anesthesia providers who participate in SBML USGIV curriculum have superior skills compared to usual training as measured by ...

8. onlinelibrary.wiley.com onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1155/2016/4237523

Improving Patient Safety through Simulation Training in ... Patient simulators can be used to recreate realistic environment and can help trainees practice routine skills for patient monitoring and the ...