title: Learning by (video) example: a randomized study of communication skills training for end-of-life and error disclosure family care conferences.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Teaching residents to lead end of life (EOL) and error disclosure (ED) conferences is important.
  
  
  METHODS
  We developed and tested an intervention using videotapes of EOL and error disclosure encounters from previous Objective Structured Clinical Exams. Residents (n = 72) from general and orthopedic surgery programs at 2 sites were enrolled. Using a prospective, pre-post, block group design with stratified randomization, we hypothesized the treatment group would outperform the control on EOL and ED cases. We also hypothesized that online course usage would correlate positively with post-test scores.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All residents improved (pre-post). At the group level, treatment effects were insignificant, and post-test performance was unrelated to course usage. At the subgroup level for EOL, low performers assigned to treatment scored higher than controls at post-test; and within the treatment group, post graduate year 3 residents outperformed post graduate year ​1 residents.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To be effective, online curricula illustrating communication behaviors need face-to-face interaction, individual role play with feedback and discussion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. Electronic address: schmi002@umn.edu.
authors.forename: Connie C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Schmitz
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.
authors.forename: Jonathan P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Braman
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Mayo School of Graduate Medical Education, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
authors.forename: Norman
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Mayo School of Graduate Medical Education, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Heller
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Radosevich
authors.affiliation: University of Minnesota, OIT Academic Technology, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.
authors.forename: Yelena
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.affiliation: University of Minnesota Academic Health Center Simulation Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.
authors.forename: Jeffrey G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Chipman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003142:Communication; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate / Q000379:methods*; D004521:Educational Measurement; D005260:Female; D013502:General Surgery / Q000193:education; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D008297:Male; D019300:Medical Errors; D009985:Orthopedics / Q000193:education; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D012016:Reference Values; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000379:methods*; D014741:Video Recording
keywords: End of life; Family care conference; Medical error; OSCE; Online education; Surgery resident