PedsTalk: A Pilot Communication Skills Education Course for Pediatric Residents

Abstract

Objective: Communication skills are critical to pediatric practice, but few pediatric residency programs provide formal communication skills education. Pediatric residents often lack confidence in these skills. We hypothesized that a simulation-based communication skills course would improve resident confidence in the skills required for serious illness conversations with patients/families.

Methods: In collaboration with multidiscipline VitalTalk-trained faculty, we developed PedsTalk, a communication skills course for pediatric residents based on the VitalTalk framework. In PedsTalk, faculty/peers offered real-time coaching during simulation sessions with actors. Resident participants self-rated confidence in 9 communication skills using a 5-point Likert scale before, immediately after, and 4 months after course participation, with course nonparticipants serving as controls. Responses were analyzed by using Friedman tests and Wilcoxon rank tests. Thematic analysis was conducted to identify themes among free-text responses.

Results: Twenty-seven pediatric residents participated in PedsTalk, 11 of whom completed survey assessments at all timepoints. Eleven course nonparticipants served as controls. Over time, participants' confidence in the following communication skills was retained or significantly improved: "difficult conversations" (P < .001), "recognizing emotion" (P < .01), "using silence" (P < .008), "headline statements" (P < .001), eliciting "VALUES" (P < .001), and asking "permission to continue" (P < .001). Over time, controls had significant improvements in confidence in 2 skills: headline statements (P < .014) and eliciting "VALUES" (P < .031).

Conclusions: PedsTalk is a novel approach to communication skills education in pediatric residency. Participation improved residents' confidence in 6 communication skills, including overall confidence in having difficult conversations. Although confidence in some skills may naturally develop through clinical experiences, PedsTalk further enhances communication skills education among trainees.