NCT04021771

Trial of Simulation-based Mastery Learning to Communicate Diagnostic Uncertainty

Simulation-based Mastery Learning to Improve Communication in Times of Diagnostic Uncertainty: Randomized Control Trial

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 109 (actual)
• Sponsor: Thomas Jefferson University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The goal of this study is to teach emergency medicine resident physicians to communicate more effectively with patients at the time of emergency department discharge in the setting of diagnostic uncertainty (i.e. no definitive cause identified for the patient's symptoms). All residents will complete baseline and follow up assessments by completing in-person simulated patient discharged. After the baseline assessment, they will complete an online educational curriculum that has been developed by the study team, and will participate in video-based simulation deliberate practice (DP) and feedback sessions using a simulation-based mastery learning (SBML) approach. They will be assessed with the Uncertainty Communication Checklist (UCC), a tool already developed by the study team, that has a minimum passing standard (MPS) that was established through engagement of both patients and physicians. The investigators will perform a 2-arm wait-list randomized control trial with resident physicians to test the efficacy of the SBML curriculum in training residents to have a discharge discussion with patients discharged from the emergency department with diagnostic uncertainty.

Conditions

• Uncertainty
• Communication Research
• Emergency Medicine

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Educational Curriculum Intervention	The intervention includes: 1) Online web-based education module created with the Rise 360 platform that has ten lessons, providing the learner with an introduction, background, and a map of how to navigate a discharge conversation for patients with diagnostic uncertainty. Core content are presented with multiple interactive components such as flip-cards, multiple-choice, drag-and-drop, sketch videos, and narrated clips. 2) Mobile application game designed to facilitate practice of the content learned in the online curriculum 3) Deliberate practice sessions allow trainees to practice communication techniques presented within the online module and to receive feedback on their performance. These sessions will be conducted with standardized patients via a video platform, during a scheduled appointment.

Timeline

• Start date: 2019-09-04
• Primary completion: 2020-02-18
• Completion: 2020-08-16
• First posted: 2019-07-16
• Last updated: 2021-05-25
• Results posted: 2021-05-25

Locations

2 sites across 1 country: United States