A long-term evaluation of a training program on breaking bad news in pediatric neurosurgery: a pilot study

OBJECTIVEBreaking bad news is a difficult task in medical practice. Several breaking-bad-news training programs have been proposed. However, long-term results of such training have rarely been investigated. The aim of this study was to compare the short- and long-term evaluations by young neurosurgeons of a training program for breaking bad news to patients and their parents.METHODSBetween 2012 and 2015, pediatric neurosurgery residents participated in a training day on breaking bad news in pediatric neurosurgery with professional actors. A personal debriefing, followed by a theoretical session, completed the training. Immediate feedback was evaluated through a survey administered at the end of the day. Long-term results were explored via an online form sent at least 3 years after the training completion.RESULTSSeventeen participants from 9 different countries were interviewed. Their immediate feedback confirmed their interest. For 71% of them, the program was very interesting, and 77% were extremely satisfied or very satisfied. All trainees wanted more training sessions. At a mean of 4.5 years of follow-up (range 3–6 years), 71% of the trainees fully remembered the session. Most of them (86%) reported a positive impact of the training on their career. Only 21% had another training session on breaking bad news during their residency. At long-term analysis, fewer trainees considered the duration of the training to have been sufficient (p = 0.044).CONCLUSIONSBreaking-bad-news training has a positive long-term educational impact even several years later. Such a training program should be implemented into pediatric neurosurgery residency.

Download Full-text

Students’ experiences with a longitudinal skills training program on breaking bad news: A follow-up study

Patient Education and Counseling ◽

10.1016/j.pec.2018.05.008 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 101 (9) ◽

pp. 1639-1644 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

M.H. Brouwers ◽

H. Bor ◽

R. Laan ◽

C. van Weel ◽

E. van Weel-Baumgarten

Keyword(s):

Training Program ◽

Skills Training ◽

Bad News ◽

Breaking Bad News ◽

Breaking Bad ◽

Follow Up Study

Download Full-text

Is it possible to improve residents breaking bad news skills? A randomised study assessing the efficacy of a communication skills training program

British Journal of Cancer ◽

10.1038/sj.bjc.6605749 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 103 (2) ◽

pp. 171-177 ◽

Cited By ~ 70

Author(s):

A Liénard ◽

I Merckaert ◽

Y Libert ◽

I Bragard ◽

N Delvaux ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Training Program ◽

Communication Skills ◽

Skills Training ◽

Bad News ◽

Communication Skills Training ◽

Breaking Bad News ◽

Randomised Study ◽

Breaking Bad

Download Full-text

Breaking Bad News Training Program Based on Video Reviews and SPIKES Strategy: What do Perinatology Residents Think about It?

Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia / RBGO Gynecology and Obstetrics ◽

10.1055/s-0037-1604490 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 39 (10) ◽

pp. 552-559 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Maria Setubal ◽

Andrea Gonçalves ◽

Sheyla Rocha ◽

Eliana Amaral

Keyword(s):

Training Program ◽

Medical Training ◽

Bad News ◽

Control Group ◽

Breaking Bad News ◽

Emotional Needs ◽

Residency Programs ◽

Breaking Bad ◽

Education Activity ◽

The Impact

Objective Resident doctors usually face the task to communicate bad news in perinatology without any formal training. The impact on parents can be disastrous. The objective of this paper is to analyze the perception of residents regarding a training program in communicating bad news in perinatology based on video reviews and setting, perception, invitation, knowledge, emotion, and summary (SPIKES) strategy. Methods We performed the analysis of complementary data collected from participants in a randomized controlled intervention study to evaluate the efficacy of a training program on improving residents' skills to communicate bad news. Data were collected using a Likert scale. Through a thematic content analysis we tried to to apprehend the meanings, feelings and experiences expressed by resident doctors in their comments as a response to an open-ended question. Half of the group received training, consisting of discussions of video reviews of participants' simulated encounters communicating a perinatal loss to a “mother” based on the SPIKES strategy. We also offered training sessions to the control group after they completed participation. Twenty-eight residents who were randomized to intervention and 16 from the control group received training. Twenty written comments were analyzed. Results The majority of the residents evaluated training highly as an education activity to help increase knowledge, ability and understanding about breaking bad news in perinatology. Three big categories emerged from residents' comments: SPIKES training effects; bad news communication in medical training; and doctors' feelings and relationship with patients. Conclusions Residents took SPIKES training as a guide to systematize the communication of bad news and to amplify perceptions of the emotional needs of the patients. They suggested the insertion of a similar training in their residency programs curricula.

Download Full-text

401: BREAKING BAD NEWS: BENEFIT AND FEASIBILITY OF A BRIEF TRAINING PROGRAM FOR PEDIATRIC FELLOWS

Critical Care Medicine ◽

10.1097/01.ccm.0000529636.09240.17 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 46 (1) ◽

pp. 183-183

Author(s):

Katharine Robb ◽

Marcy Rosenbaum

Keyword(s):

Training Program ◽

Bad News ◽

Breaking Bad News ◽

Breaking Bad ◽

Brief Training

Download Full-text

Improving Perinatology Residents' Skills in Breaking Bad News: A Randomized Intervention Study

Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia / RBGO Gynecology and Obstetrics ◽

10.1055/s-0037-1621741 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 40 (03) ◽

pp. 137-146 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Maria Silvia Setubal ◽

Maria Ângela Antonio ◽

Eliana Amaral ◽

John Boulet

Keyword(s):

Repeated Measures ◽

Intervention Study ◽

Training Session ◽

Bad News ◽

Analysis Of Covariance ◽

Control Group ◽

Breaking Bad News ◽

Breaking Bad ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Randomized Intervention Study

Objective Breaking bad news (BBN) is particularly difficult in perinatology. Previous research has shown that BBN skills can be learned and improved when taught and practiced. This project evaluated whether a structured training session would enhance perinatology residents' skills in BBN. Methods This was a randomized controlled intervention study with year 1 to 4 Perinatology residents from a medical school in Brazil, during the 2014/15 school year. A total of 61 out of 100 (61%) eligible residents volunteered to a structured training program involving communicating a perinatal loss to a simulated patient (SP) portraying the mother followed by the SP's immediate feedback, both video recorded. Later, residents were randomly assigned to BBN training based on a setting, perception, invitation, knowledge, emotion and summary (SPIKES) strategy with video reviews (intervention) or no training (control group). All residents returned for a second simulation with the same SP blinded to the intervention and portraying a similar case. Residents' performances were then evaluated by the SP with a checklist. The statistical analysis included a repeated measures analysis of covariance (RM-ANCOVA). Complementarily, the residents provided their perceptions about the simulation with feedback activities. Results Fifty-eight residents completed the program. The simulations lasted on average 12 minutes, feedback 5 minutes and SPIKES training between 1h and 2h30m. There was no significant difference in the residents' performances according to the SPs' evaluations (p = 0.55). The participants rated the simulation with feedback exercises highly. These educational activities might have offset SPIKES training impact. Conclusion The SPIKES training did not significantly impact the residents' performance. The residents endorsed the simulation with feedback as a useful training modality. Further research is needed to determine which modality is more effective.

Download Full-text