title: The effectiveness of the Geritalk communication skills course: a real-time assessment of skill acquisition and deliberate practice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Communication skills are critical in Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine because these patients confront complex clinical scenarios. We evaluated the effectiveness of the Geritalk communication skills course by comparing pre- and post-course real-time assessment of the participants leading family meetings. We also evaluated the participants' sustained skills practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  We compare the participants' skill acquisition before and after Geritalk using a direct observation Family Meeting Communication Assessment Tool and assess their deliberate practice at follow-up.
  
  
  METHODS
  First-year Geriatrics or Palliative Medicine fellows at Mount Sinai Medical Center and the James J. Peters Bronx VA Medical Center participated in Geritalk.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pre- and post-course family meeting assessments were compared. An average net gain of 6.8 skills represented a greater than 20% improvement in use of applicable skills. At two month follow-up, most participants reported deliberate practice of fundamental and advanced skills.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This intensive training and family meeting assessment offers evidence-based communication skills training.
authors.affiliation: Brookdale Department of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA; Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA. Electronic address: Laura.Gelfman@mssm.edu.
authors.forename: Laura P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Gelfman
authors.affiliation: Brookdale Department of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA; Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lindenberger
authors.affiliation: Brookdale Department of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA; Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fernandez
authors.affiliation: Brookdale Department of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA; Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Gabrielle R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Goldberg
authors.affiliation: Brookdale Department of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA; Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Betty B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: Brookdale Department of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA; Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Evgenia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Litrivis
authors.affiliation: Division of Geriatrics, Department of Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: Lynn
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: O'Neill
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Cardinale B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: Brookdale Department of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA; Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Amy S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Kelley
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003142:Communication; D003199:Computer Systems; D003479:Curriculum; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate / Q000379:methods*; D004521:Educational Measurement / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005853:Geriatrics / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009518:New York; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000458:organization & administration*
keywords: Communication skills; assessment tool; deliberate practice; family meeting; graduate medical education