The Effectiveness of the Geritalk Communication Skills Course: A Real-Time Assessment of Skill Acquisition and Deliberate Practice

• Published in: Journal of pain and symptom management Vol. 48; no. 4; pp. 738 - 744.e6
• Main Authors: Gelfman, Laura P., MD, Lindenberger, Elizabeth, MD, Fernandez, Helen, MD, MPH, Goldberg, Gabrielle R., MD, Lim, Betty B., MD, Litrivis, Evgenia, MD, O'Neill, Lynn, MD, Smith, Cardinale B., MD, MSCR, Kelley, Amy S., MD, MSHS
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.10.2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult; Anesthesia & Perioperative Care; assessment tool; Biological and medical sciences; Clinical Competence; Communication; Communication skills; Computer Systems; Curriculum; deliberate practice; Education, Medical, Graduate - methods; Educational Measurement - methods; family meeting; Female; Geriatrics - education; graduate medical education; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; New York; Pain Medicine; Palliative Care - organization & administration; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; New York; graduate medical education; deliberate practice; assessment tool; family meeting; Communication skills; Medicine; Evaluation; Education; Efficiency; Vocational aptitude; Real time; Communication
• ISSN: 0885-3924; 1873-6513
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2013.12.231

Abstract Background Communication skills are critical in Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine because these patients confront complex clinical scenarios. We evaluated the effectiveness of the Geritalk communication skills course by comparing pre- and post-course real-time assessment of the participants leading family meetings. We also evaluated the participants' sustained skills practice. Measures We compare the participants' skill acquisition before and after Geritalk using a direct observation Family Meeting Communication Assessment Tool and assess their deliberate practice at follow-up. Intervention First-year Geriatrics or Palliative Medicine fellows at Mount Sinai Medical Center and the James J. Peters Bronx VA Medical Center participated in Geritalk. Outcomes Pre- and post-course family meeting assessments were compared. An average net gain of 6.8 skills represented a greater than 20% improvement in use of applicable skills. At two month follow-up, most participants reported deliberate practice of fundamental and advanced skills. Conclusions/Lessons Learned This intensive training and family meeting assessment offers evidence-based communication skills training.