Quality of End-of-life Care Does Not Improve On Use Of Simulation-based Communication Training: Study

A study finds that simulation-based communication skills training compared with usual education did not improve quality of communication about end-of-life care or quality of end-of-life care.

A study finds that among internal medicine and nurse practitioner trainees, simulation-based communication skills training compared with usual education did not improve quality of communication about end-of-life care or quality of end-of-life care but was associated with a small increase in patients' symptoms of depression. The study is appearing in the December 4 issue of JAMA, a medical education theme issue.

"Observational studies have suggested that communication about end-of-life care is associated with decreased intensity of care, increased quality of life, and improved quality of dying. In addition, interventions that focus on communication about palliative and end-of-life care, using palliative care specialists, have demonstrated improved quality of life, decreased symptoms of depression, and reduced intensity of care at the end of life," according to background information in the article. "Simulation-based training improves skill acquisition, but effects on patient-reported outcomes are unknown."

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J. Randall Curtis, M.D., M.P.H., of the University of Washington, Seattle, and colleagues conducted a trial to examine whether a communication skills-building workshop aimed at internal medicine (n = 391) and nurse practitioner (n = 81) trainees, using simulation during which trainees practiced skills associated with palliative and end-of-life care communication, had any effect on patient-, family-, and clinician-reported outcomes. Participants were randomized to the 8-session, simulation-based, communication skills intervention (n = 232) or usual education (n = 240).

The primary outcome was patient-reported quality of communication (QOC). Secondary outcomes were patient-reported quality of end-of-life care (QEOLC) and depressive symptoms and family-reported QOC and QEOLC.

The researchers received 1,866 patient evaluations completed by 1,717 patients evaluating 345 trainees; and 936 surveys completed by 898 family respondents, evaluating 295 trainees. Analysis of the data indicated that the intervention was not associated with improvement in QOC or QEOLC. After adjustment, comparing intervention with control, there was no difference in the QOC or QEOLC score for patients or families, but it was associated with increased depression scores among patients of post-intervention trainees.

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"These findings raise questions about skills transfer from simulation training to actual patient care and the adequacy of communication skills assessment," the authors write.

Source-Eurekalert

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