A multi-institutional study of the Family Conference Objective Structured Clinical Exam: a reliable assessment of professional communication

The relevance of the research problem is due to the need to update theoretical views and practical actions to create new methods for an objective and structured assessment of the communication skills of students at a medical university. The purpose of the article is to prove the suitability, reliability, feasibility of an objective structured clinical examination (OSKE) as a tool for assessing the communication skills of residents in simulated conditions during the intermediate certification of students. The leading research method was an experiment on the development and implementation of three stations within the framework of the OSKE to assess the communication skills of 77 residents who completed the training course in the discipline "Communication skills" necessary information and resistance to doctor's recommendations. The article shows that experts highly assess the level of formation of general communication skills and skills of explaining information to the patient among the majority of examinees. It was revealed that communication skills associated with persuading the patient to follow the doctor's recommendations require improvement. Based on the methods of oral questioning and questioning, as well as psychometric analysis of the exam results, it has been proven that the developed OSKE is a reliable and valid tool for assessing the communication skills of residents in simulated conditions. The materials presented in the article can be used for intermediate and final certification of students in residency, as well as in the process of teaching future doctors the skills of communicating with patients at clinical departments. The technology of the exam, developed by the authors, will make it possible to fairly objectively assess communication skills, to cause the examinees to experience a sense of fairness in assessment, which is one of the factors in the emergence of a positive attitude towards improving the activity of professional communication.

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Disclosing a Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease: Patient and Family Experiences

Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences / Journal Canadien des Sciences Neurologiques ◽

10.1017/s0317167100001220 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 28 (S1) ◽

pp. S67-S71 ◽

Cited By ~ 39

Author(s):

André P. Smith ◽

B. Lynn Beattie

Keyword(s):

Alzheimer’S Disease ◽

Alzheimer's Disease ◽

Family Members ◽

Disease Patient ◽

Memory Problems ◽

Family Conference ◽

The Family ◽

Disclosure Of Diagnosis ◽

Assessment Beliefs ◽

Collection Methods

Background:Informing patients and families about the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a complex ethical and practical issue. This qualitative study explores the psychosocial impact of disclosing a diagnosis of AD on patients and family members.Methods:This study identified 14 patients and their accompanying family members undergoing a multidisciplinary assessment for dementia at an outpatient clinic for AD and related disorders. Of the group, three patients had probable AD and five had possible AD as per NINCDS-ADRDAcriteria. Six patients were not demented as per DSM IIIR criteria. Disclosure of diagnosis occurred, in a family conference, within six to eight weeks of the assessment. Data collection methods included observation of the assessment and the family conference as well as in-depth home interviews with family members and with each patient whenever feasible. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and coded for recurrent themes.Results:A total of 40 individuals across 14 families participated in this study. Only two families chose not to have the patient attend the family conference. The disclosure of a diagnosis of probable AD brought on an experience of relief in three families, marking the end of a lengthy period of confusion about the nature of memory problems. Patients diagnosed with possible AD and their families interpreted how indicative the diagnosis was of the presence of the disease with varying degrees of certainty depending on pre-assessment beliefs about the cause of memory problems. In the group diagnosed as not demented, four patients had complaints of forgetfulness likely related to minor depression. The disclosure of a diagnosis of no dementia did not produce the anticipated relief. Two patients continued to believe their memory problems were caused by the early onset of AD or some other “organic” problem.Interpretation:This study reveals that disclosure of the diagnosis of AD to patients and family members is generally beneficial but that there are variations in the understanding of the diagnostic information, particularly in instances where the assessment results are ambiguous.

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Family Conference In Primary Care Practice

Journal Of The Indonesian Medical Association ◽

10.47830/jinma-vol.70.12-2020-339 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 70 (12) ◽

pp. 243-245

Author(s):

Retno Asti Werdhani ◽

Dhanasari Vidiawati Trisna

Keyword(s):

Primary Care ◽

Family Environment ◽

Primary Care Practice ◽

Care Physician ◽

Care Practice ◽

Successful Management ◽

Inhibiting Factor ◽

Family Conference ◽

The Family ◽

Physician Family

From the Epidemiology Triangle, we can see that a person’s health status is influenced by 3 factors: host, agent, and the environment. The environment plays the biggest role as the cause of health problems, one of which is the family environment. Family can become a supporting factor or inhibiting factor in the successful management of patient’s cases. Therefore, a primary care physician/family physician needs to conduct family meetings to discuss and agree on solutions with the patient’s family by paying attention to inhibiting and supporting factors and find common solutions for the benefit of the patient.

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The Family Conference

Surgical Palliative Care ◽

10.1093/med/9780190858360.003.0020 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 238-249

Author(s):

Melissa Red Hoffman

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Palliative Care ◽

Surgical Procedure ◽

Shared Decision ◽

Treatment Team ◽

Care Providers ◽

Time Saving ◽

Family Conference ◽

Short Period ◽

The Family

The family conference chapter explores, in detail, one of the primary interventions performed by palliative care providers. A successful meeting can actually be viewed as time saving as it offers an opportunity for many issues to be reviewed and for multiple important decisions to be made in a relatively short period of time. By describing the conference in terms of a surgical procedure, during which we prepare, do, and close, this chapter offers specific guidance in a way most likely to resonate with a surgeon. It reviews the steps necessary to prepare for a family conference and describes how such steps may aid the family and the treatment team in managing uncertainty. It introduces the ask-tell-ask model of communication and discusses how this model can help to facilitate shared decision-making.

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The Objective Structured Clinical Exam (OSCE) and Structured Oral Exams (SOEs)

Preparing to Pass the FRCA ◽

10.1093/med/9780198748687.003.0007 ◽

2016 ◽

pp. 39-44

Author(s):

Caroline Whymark

Keyword(s):

Clinical Exam ◽

Objective Structured Clinical Exam

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An objective structured clinical examination to assess the communication skills of students

European Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1093/eurpub/ckz186.550 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽

Author(s):

Z Bekbergenova ◽

G Derbissalina ◽

A Umbetzhanova ◽

G Alibekova ◽

G Mauletbayeva ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Communication Skills ◽

Clinical Examination ◽

Professional Competence ◽

Communicative Competence ◽

General Medicine ◽

Objective Structured Clinical Examination ◽

Practical Skills ◽

Clinical Exam ◽

Objective Structured Clinical Exam

Abstract Background Communicative competence is one of the important components of professional competence that needs to be developed in the process of training future doctors. Methods At the end of the study of the “General Practice” module, students of the 5th year of the specialty General Medicine must pass a two-stage exam consisting of comprehensive testing and acceptance of practical skills of an objective structured clinical exam (OSKE) with the participation of volunteers. Students, who passed the exam, anonymously filled out the questionnaire on the evaluation of the organization of the OSKE with volunteers and their communication skills. Results The analysis of the questionnaires showed that 4% of the students noted the unfriendliness of the volunteers, 27% wrote that it was difficult to engage with the volunteers in the collection of the anamnesis, 2% of the students, unfortunately, had never before encountered a similar situation. 12% of students who passed the exam wished to improve the communication skills of the volunteers themselves, for example, they advised to speak louder, not to ask unnecessary and unnecessary questions, to get more real in the role of the patient. Only 10% of examinees decided that OSKE did not develop their communication skills; 24% noted individual stations, which caused them some difficulties. However, the students themselves acknowledged their poor preparedness, including during communication with standardized patients. Conclusions The analysis of the questionnaires showed that the students themselves are self-critical of their communication skills and recognize the need for their continuous improvement. Key messages The student’s communicative competence can be assessed by conducting an objective structured clinical examination. Conducting an objective structured clinical examination with volunteers can improve the communicative competence of students.

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