ICRE recently connected with Dr. Brian Wong and Dr. Lynfa Stroud to discuss the challenge of preparing residents for error disclosure. This issues and more will be explored in an October 19 ICRE workshop.
This is a perennially uncomfortable and often anxiety-provoking topic. Why do we continue to struggle to teach this effectively?
Beyond the usual constraints of having a full curriculum and trying to add a new topic to the mix, there are two important challenges. The first is that faculty themselves may be uncomfortable with disclosing errors to patients, or are not trained to support and teach residents and students. The second is the prevailing “blame-shame” culture that still exists in some clinical environments that may hamper efforts to address this skill formally in the training program.
What are the benefits of using didactic sessions versus role-playing?
Our approach combines didactic and role-play to teach error disclosure. The advantage of a brief didactic introduction is that it allows us to delivery core principles to the larger group and provide them with a framework and an approach to disclosing errors. We then provide them with an opportunity to practice what was learned and have these ‘difficult dialogues’ in a safe environment. It also allows for the learners to get feedback from their peers as well as the standardized patients.
Recognizing that ICRE isn’t until October, what are some of the themes this session will explore?
Our workshop will touch on the following themes:
- Open and honest communication
- Residents’ and faculty’s own experiences with error disclosure
- The role of apology
- Medico-legal aspects of error disclosure
- Who should disclose errors? What is the residents’ role in disclosure?
- Real-world barriers to error disclosure?
- Controversies in this area
Can residents coach other residents to improve disclosure? If so, do you have any advice?
Absolutely. In fact, our educational design takes advantage of peer-feedback by providing the residents with a structured worksheet to formalize the feedback process, so that the residents providing feedback have the error disclosure framework and process reinforced as well.
What materials or tools will participants leave the workshop with?
We would be happy to provide all participants who attend our workshop with:
- Power point of didactic information and references
- Sample role play scenarios
- Worksheet for structuring disclosure for residents to work from
- Feedback form for disclosure role play
Visit the ICRE website to view the complete conference program . The early bird deadline is September 10. Register today.
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