The impact of an end-of-life communication skills intervention on physicians-in-training

Gerontol Geriatr Educ. 2011;32(2):152-63. doi: 10.1080/02701960.2011.572051.

Abstract

The palliative medicine literature consistently documents that physicians are poorly prepared to help patients experience a "good death" and are often unaware of their ill patients' preferences for end-of-life care. The present study, enrolling 150 physicians, sought to improve their communication skills for end-of-life care. We found significant attitudinal changes and a greater degree of self-rated competence in delivering end-of-life care for those in the intervention group. This study used a novel approach to train physicians to be better equipped to conduct difficult goals of care conversations with patients and their families at end-of-life.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Clinical Competence*
  • Communication*
  • Curriculum
  • Health Care Surveys
  • Humans
  • Palliative Care*
  • Physician-Patient Relations*
  • Physicians / psychology*
  • Statistics, Nonparametric
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • United States