The Competency-Based Training in Intensive Care Medicine in Europe (CoBaTrICE) Italian collaborative: national results from the Picker survey.
BACKGROUND
The aim of the Competency-Based Training in Intensive Care Medicine in Europe (CoBaTrICE) project is to create an internationally acceptable competency-based training program for specialists in intensive care medicine. The CoBaTrICE Project has performed a survey, in collaboration with the Picker institute, United Kingdom, to identify desirable characteristics of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) specialists, as expressed by patients and their relatives.


METHODS
A questionnaire was developed to assess 21 elements of professional competence. Each element was assigned to one of four categories of a Likert scale: 1=essential; 2=very important; 3=not too important; 4=does not matter. The results were dichotomized into essential (score: 1) and not essential (scores: 2-4) categories. Further, the documents were related to three key concepts: "medical skills and competencies", "communication with patients", and "communication with relatives". Questionnaire statements grouped by theme were also ranked for each item using a number: 1=highest rank; 21=lowest rank. Free text responses were also invited.


RESULTS
Ten Italian ICUS were enrolled in the study. There were 249 questionnaires completed (18% total return rate).


CONCLUSIONS
Priority in Italy was given to medical skills and competence. Involvement of patients and relatives in decision-making processes were among the items considered least important. Italian families preferred a paternalist approach to the end of life decision-making process.
Rubulotta
F
F
Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, University Hospital Polyclinic, University of Catania, Catania, Italy. frubulotta@hotmail.com
Gullo
A
A
Iapichino
G
G
Pezzi
A
A
Bion
J
J
Barret
H
H
D002983:Clinical Competence; D003422:Critical Care / Q000523:psychology*; D003625:Data Collection; D003657:Decision Making; D004501:Education, Medical; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D006764:Hospitals, Community; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007558:Italy; D026706:Paternalism; D010358:Patient Participation; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology*; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D013038:Specialization; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000523:psychology; D014342:Truth Disclosure