title: A competency-based communication skills workshop series for pediatric residents.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The use of advanced communication skills to deal with difficult situations is essential to deliver adequate medical care.
  
  
  METHODS
  A four-unit competency-based workshop series was developed for Pediatric Residents. The units are: Communicating Bad News, Communicating in Difficult Physician-Patient Situations, Communicating with Adolescents and Providing Telephone Consultation. The Communicating Bad News unit was fully developed, implemented and pilot tested.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The intervention group performed significantly better (p = 0.001) than the non-intervention group in the Pilot Test. Residents found the instructional sessions to be excellent and effective.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A competency-based curriculum is likely to be an effective way to teach the use of advanced communication skills needed in complex situations. In addition to learning the skills, residents are also likely to feel more prepared to deal with the situations they encounter. Both skill and confidence are necessary for the adequate delivery of medical care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Puerto Rico, School of Medicine, San Juan, PR. dsilva@rcm.upr.edu
authors.forename: Débora H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Silva
mesh_terms: D003142:Communication; D003479:Curriculum; D007396:Internship and Residency; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000193:education*