• Haim Berkenstadt, Daria Perlson, Orit Shalomson, Atalia Tuval, Yael Haviv-Yadid, and Amitai Ziv.
• Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Sheba Medical Center. haim.berkenstadt@sheba.health.gov.il
• Harefuah. 2013 Aug 1;152(8):453-6, 500, 499.

BackgroundAlthough effective communication with families of critically ill patients is a vital component of quality care, training in this field is neglected.AimsThe article aims to validate communication skills training program for anesthesiology residents in the intensive care set up.MethodsTen anesthesia residents, following 3 months of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) rotation, had 4 hours of lectures and one day simulation-based communication skills training with families of critically ill patients. Participants completed an attitude questionnaire over 3 time periods--before training [t1], immediately following training (t2) and three months following training (t3). The participants' communication skills were assessed by two blinded independent observers using the SEGUE framework while performing a simulation-based scenario at t1 and t3.ResultsSeven participants finished the study protocol. Participants ndicated communication importance as 3.68 +/- 0.58 (t1), 4.05 +/- 0.59 (t2), 4.13 +/- 0.64 (t3); their communication ability as 3.09 +/- 0.90 (t1), 3.70 +/- 0.80 (t2), 3.57 +/- 0.64 (t3); the contribution of lecture to communication 3.04 +/- 0.43 (t1), 3.83 +/- 0.39 (t2), 3.87 +/- 0.51 (t3), and contribution of simulation training to communication 3.00 +/- 0.71 (t1), 4.04 +/- 0.52 (t2), 3.84 +/- 0.31 (t3). The differences did not reach statistical significance. Objective assessment of the communication skills using the SEGUE framework indicated that 6/7 participants improved their communication skills, with communication ability before training at 2.66 +/- 0.83 and 1 month following training it was 3.38 +/- 0.78 (p = 0.09).ConclusionsThis preliminary study demonstrates the value of communication skills training in the intensive care environment.

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