A workshop to teach medical students communication skills and clinical knowledge about end-of-life care.
We describe a half-day workshop to teach third-year medical students three focused end-of-life care skills: breaking bad news, discussing advance directives, and assessing and managing pain. Our workshop included a readers' theater exercise and three role-play exercises. In two of the workshops, faculty members played the role of patients. We used readers' theater to engage the students on an emotional level and set a reflective tone for the workshop. Evaluations reflected that most respondents felt that the workshop enhanced their understanding and ability to address these skills with patients. By 6 months, many students reported applying these skills to patient care in a way they thought was effective.
Torke
Alexia M
AM
Department of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA. atorke@emory.edu
Quest
Tammie E
TE
Kinlaw
Kathy
K
Eley
J William
JW
Branch
William T
WT
D016223:Advance Directives; D003142:Communication; D003479:Curriculum; D004493:Education / Q000379:methods*; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods; D012381:Role Playing; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods; D013727:Terminal Care; D014342:Truth Disclosure