Publication
Assessing the impact of training using the serious illness conversation guide-pediatric adaptation (SICG-PEDS) on clinician-family communication
Doherty M, Bezzahou M, Lynch-Godrei A, Frenette M · Palliative Medicine · 2021
Background: An essential component of high-quality and patient-centered care for children with life-limiting conditions is eliciting families' values, priorities and goals about their child's future health care. The Serious Illness Conversation Guide - Pediatric Adaptation (SICG-Peds) provides a standardized approach to communication, which has been developed to include patient and caregiver tested language, incorporating best available evidence. Aim(s): We aim to assess the impact of SICG-Peds training workshops on clinicians' skills and confidence in leading serious illness conversations with families, and to identify barriers to clinician implementation of these communication techniques in their practices. Method(s): Clinicians participating in SICG-Peds workshops were surveyed about their knowledge, comfort, and attitudes in the management of difficult communication scenarios before and after SICG-Peds workshops (immediately and 6 months). Semi-structured interviews were also conducted with clinicians 6 months after the workshops. Result(s): Ninety-four healthcare providers participated in the study. Before the workshop, most participants identified training (54%), mentoring (48%), and a framework for communication (53%) as their most significant learning needs. At six month follow-up, 59% of participants reported conducting serious illness conversations with parents at least four times. The most common barriers to incorporating SICG-Peds into clinical practice were a lack of adequate time and space, lack of experience, and differences in cultural or linguistic backgrounds. Conclusion(s): SICG-Peds workshops support pediatric clinicians' skill and confidence in initiating and leading conversations focused on families' values, priorities and goals for their child's health. Future studies exploring the longer-term impacts of serious illness training are needed.
Synced from the TRENDS in Pediatric Palliative Care Zotero library, curated by The Siden Research Team. ICPCN does not host or verify the full text.