Teaching Patient Handoffs to Medical Students in Obstetrics and Gynecology: Simulation Curriculum and Assessment Tool
Abstract Introduction Patient handoffs, the communications required for the safe transfer of patient care, are known to be a common source of medical errors. Simulation exercises are effective techniques for teaching the procedures and patient interaction skills involved in a handoff. We developed a...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Association of American Medical Colleges
2016-10-01
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| Series: | MedEdPORTAL |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.mededportal.org/doi/10.15766/mep_2374-8265.10479 |
| _version_ | 1818361762829828096 |
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| author | Celeste S. Royce Katharyn Meredith Atkins Monica Mendiola Hope Ricciotti |
| author_facet | Celeste S. Royce Katharyn Meredith Atkins Monica Mendiola Hope Ricciotti |
| author_sort | Celeste S. Royce |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Introduction Patient handoffs, the communications required for the safe transfer of patient care, are known to be a common source of medical errors. Simulation exercises are effective techniques for teaching the procedures and patient interaction skills involved in a handoff. We developed a teaching tool that allows students to individually interact with a simulated patient, develop a treatment plan, and practice a handoff to another provider. Methods The curriculum is a flexible instructional tool to teach patient handoffs in the context of a simulated obstetric emergency for learners at the clerkship through first-year obstetrics and gynecology resident levels. The curriculum secondarily teaches management of first-trimester bleeding with acute blood loss and can be adapted to allow advanced learners to practice obtaining informed consent. To evaluate this simulation for educational effectiveness, we developed a faculty observation assessment tool. Results The simulation assessments for history taking, fund of knowledge, and interpersonal skills were predictive of subsequent clerkship clinical grades. Eighty percent of students agreed the exercise was realistic, 95% agreed it was relevant to the clinical curriculum, 90% agreed the simulation taught handoff skills, and 73% agreed the simulation increased confidence in handoff skills. Students uniformly found the curriculum to be relevant, realistic, and effective at teaching handoff skills. Discussion Use of this curriculum has the potential to improve students’ communication skills, handoff performance, and confidence during an obstetrics and gynecology clerkship. The assessment tool may allow early identification of students in need of improvement in communication skills. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T21:21:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-add0685dcfe744589693c521b2910ba0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2374-8265 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T21:21:51Z |
| publishDate | 2016-10-01 |
| publisher | Association of American Medical Colleges |
| record_format | Article |
| series | MedEdPORTAL |
| spelling | doaj.art-add0685dcfe744589693c521b2910ba02022-12-21T23:31:05ZengAssociation of American Medical CollegesMedEdPORTAL2374-82652016-10-011210.15766/mep_2374-8265.10479Teaching Patient Handoffs to Medical Students in Obstetrics and Gynecology: Simulation Curriculum and Assessment ToolCeleste S. Royce0Katharyn Meredith Atkins1Monica Mendiola2Hope Ricciotti31 Instructor, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Gynecology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School2 Assistant Professor, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Gynecology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School1 Instructor, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Gynecology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School3 Associate Professor, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Gynecology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical SchoolAbstract Introduction Patient handoffs, the communications required for the safe transfer of patient care, are known to be a common source of medical errors. Simulation exercises are effective techniques for teaching the procedures and patient interaction skills involved in a handoff. We developed a teaching tool that allows students to individually interact with a simulated patient, develop a treatment plan, and practice a handoff to another provider. Methods The curriculum is a flexible instructional tool to teach patient handoffs in the context of a simulated obstetric emergency for learners at the clerkship through first-year obstetrics and gynecology resident levels. The curriculum secondarily teaches management of first-trimester bleeding with acute blood loss and can be adapted to allow advanced learners to practice obtaining informed consent. To evaluate this simulation for educational effectiveness, we developed a faculty observation assessment tool. Results The simulation assessments for history taking, fund of knowledge, and interpersonal skills were predictive of subsequent clerkship clinical grades. Eighty percent of students agreed the exercise was realistic, 95% agreed it was relevant to the clinical curriculum, 90% agreed the simulation taught handoff skills, and 73% agreed the simulation increased confidence in handoff skills. Students uniformly found the curriculum to be relevant, realistic, and effective at teaching handoff skills. Discussion Use of this curriculum has the potential to improve students’ communication skills, handoff performance, and confidence during an obstetrics and gynecology clerkship. The assessment tool may allow early identification of students in need of improvement in communication skills.http://www.mededportal.org/doi/10.15766/mep_2374-8265.10479SimulationMiscarriageSpontaneous AbortionHandoffInternHandover |
| spellingShingle | Celeste S. Royce Katharyn Meredith Atkins Monica Mendiola Hope Ricciotti Teaching Patient Handoffs to Medical Students in Obstetrics and Gynecology: Simulation Curriculum and Assessment Tool MedEdPORTAL Simulation Miscarriage Spontaneous Abortion Handoff Intern Handover |
| title | Teaching Patient Handoffs to Medical Students in Obstetrics and Gynecology: Simulation Curriculum and Assessment Tool |
| title_full | Teaching Patient Handoffs to Medical Students in Obstetrics and Gynecology: Simulation Curriculum and Assessment Tool |
| title_fullStr | Teaching Patient Handoffs to Medical Students in Obstetrics and Gynecology: Simulation Curriculum and Assessment Tool |
| title_full_unstemmed | Teaching Patient Handoffs to Medical Students in Obstetrics and Gynecology: Simulation Curriculum and Assessment Tool |
| title_short | Teaching Patient Handoffs to Medical Students in Obstetrics and Gynecology: Simulation Curriculum and Assessment Tool |
| title_sort | teaching patient handoffs to medical students in obstetrics and gynecology simulation curriculum and assessment tool |
| topic | Simulation Miscarriage Spontaneous Abortion Handoff Intern Handover |
| url | http://www.mededportal.org/doi/10.15766/mep_2374-8265.10479 |
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