Efficacy of a dyadic intervention to improve communication between patients with cancer and their caregivers: A randomized pilot trial

ObjectiveCancer-related communication is critical for patients’ and caregivers’ adaptation to illness. This randomized pilot study was conducted to test the feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy of a specific dyadic intervention to improve communication.MethodsA four weekly-session intervention was developed to reinforce cancer-related patient-caregiver communication. Patients receiving treatment for any diagnosed cancer, and their caregivers, were recruited from two oncology clinics in Belgium. Sixty-four patient-caregiver dyads were assigned randomly to intervention and waitlist groups. Cancer-related dyadic communication, dyadic coping and emotional distress were assessed at baseline and post-intervention.ResultsThe intervention attrition rate was 6 %. Linear mixed models were performed on 60 dyads. Significant two-way group × time interaction indicated improvement in participants’ cancer-related dyadic communication frequency (β = ?1.30; SE = 0.31; p = .004), self-efficacy (β = ?10.03; SE = 3.90; p = .011) and dyadic coping (β = ?5.93; SE = 2.73; p = .046) after the intervention.ConclusionThese results indicate that the brief dyadic communication intervention is feasible and acceptable, and show preliminary evidence of efficacy.Practice implicationsEncouraging patients and caregivers to discuss personal cancer-related concerns may improve their ability to cope with the illness together.     

Language barriers between nurses and patients: A scoping review

ObjectiveGlobal migration and linguistic diversity are at record highs, making healthcare language barriers more prevalent. Nurses, often the first contact with patients in the healthcare system, can improve outcomes including safety and satisfaction through how they manage language barriers. This review aimed to explore how research has examined the nursing workforce with respect to language barriers.MethodsA systematic scoping review of the literature was conducted using four databases. An iterative coding approach was used for data analysis. Study quality was appraised using the CASP checklists.Results48 studies representing 16 countries were included. Diverse healthcare settings were represented, with the inpatient setting most commonly studied. The majority of studies were qualitative. Coding produced 4 themes: (1) Interpreter Use/Misuse, (2) Barriers to and Facilitators of Quality Care, (3) Cultural Competence, and (4) Interventions.ConclusionGenerally, nurses noted like experiences and applied similar strategies regardless of setting, country, or language. Language barriers complicated care delivery while increasing stress and workload.Practice ImplicationsThis review identified gaps which future research can investigate to better support nurses working through language barriers. Similarly, healthcare and government leaders have opportunities to enact policies which address bilingual proficiency, workload, and interpreter use.     

The associations between reflective ability and communication skills among medical students

ObjectivesAssess associations between medical students’ reflective ability demonstrated in written narratives, and communication skills demonstrated later in simulated-patient breaking bad news interactions.MethodsWe analyzed 66 medical students’ reflective ability, using ‘REFLECT’ rubric and four newly developed parameters: Noticing Explanations provided to patients, Noticing Emotions, Remoteness/Connectedness in their writing, and mentioning Self-Emotions. ‘BAS’ and ‘SPIKES’ questionnaires measured students’ communication skills. Spearman and Chi-square tests examined correlations among all variables. Multiple regressions examined associations between reflective ability and demographic variables with communication skills.ResultsSignificant positive correlations between students’ reflective ability, measured by REFLECT and three of the new parameters, and global communication skill scores. Reflective ability of Noticing Explanations in writing was associated with ability to tailoring information to patients’ needs and address emotions.ConclusionsHigh reflective ability may improve communication skills. Specifically, ability to notice explanations to patients may enhance later capability to tailor information to patients and address emotions empathically.Practice implicationsEncourage educational interventions enhancing reflective ability; specifically observation and detailed writing about how explanations are given to patients and patients’ reactions to them. This process may help students develop competency to share and tailor difficult information sensitively—a critical skill when communicating bad news.     

妇产科住院医师临床技能培训体系构建

妇产科学是一门涉及面广、实践性和操作性均很强的学科,对医生临床操作能力的要求也格外严格。妇产科住院医师临床技能操作水平的高低是评价其岗位胜任力的重要指标,开展全面、规范的临床技能培训,有利于切实提高其临床操作能力,是培养合格妇产科专科医师的必经途径。研究以南京医科大学附属妇产医院为例,讲述了该院从目标体系、过程管理体系、考核评价体系和质量控制体系4个方面出发,探索构建适合专科医院特色的妇产科住院医师临床技能培训体系,并在实践过程中不断完善该体系,以期不断提升妇产科住院医师的临床工作能力,有效增强其岗位胜任力和综合素质。     

目标教学在前列腺超声诊断技术带教中的应用价值研究

目的探讨目标教学在前列腺超声诊断技术带教中的应用效果。方法选择2017年1月-2018年12月于我院进行前列腺超声诊断技术培训的影像学专业学生80例,根据入院时间先后顺序分为研究组与对照组,每组40例。对照组医学生采用常规教学法带教,研究组医学生采用目标教学法带教,比较两组带教效果。结果研究组医学生的超声诊断仪使用(94.12±2.73)分、超声扫查技巧(92.81±5.06)分、操作技能(90.83±5.11)分、超声图像表现掌握(91.96±3.67)分均高于对照组(P<0.05)。研究组医学生的总体满意度CEQ评分(8.22±0.24)分高于对照组的(5.25±0.30)分,两组比较差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论目标教学在前列腺超声诊断技术带教中的应用效果良好,可有效提高医学生的操作能力,提高医学生对带教模式的肯定度。     

医院临床技能培训中心在应对疫情专项技能培训中的作用——以南通大学第五附属医院临床技能培训中心为例

2019 年底新型冠状病毒肺炎（以下简称新冠肺炎）疫情发生后,为抗击疫情和保障医护人员自身安全,开展了传染病防护技能专项培训。在本医院的临床技能培训中心,按“三区两通道”设置模拟隔离病区、开发传染病防控专项培训课程,对全体医护人员（特别是一线医护人员）进行传染病防护技能、进出隔离病区等项目实景培训及实战练习。以期迅速有效地提升医护人员传染病防护技能和防护下临床操作的熟练度、精准度,在更好地治疗患者的同时,实现了医护人员“零感染”的目标。同时也说明在医院临床技能培训中心设置模拟隔离病区、开设传染病防护技能课程,并纳入常态化培训考核的必要性和重要性。     

口腔医学毕业临床技能考核模式的改革与实践

口腔医学是一门实践性很强的经验型学科,口腔医学专业学生不仅要具备扎实的医学理论知识,最重要的是培养临床操作能力。现阶段口腔医学专业的毕业技能考核陈旧、单一,很难对即将毕业的学生进行临床技能的综合评定,随着生活水平的提高和对口腔保健的大量需求,对口腔实用型人才的培养的要求越来越高,为充分体现毕业考试对口腔应用型人才培养的激励作用,培养适合现代医疗水平的高质量口腔医学实用型人才,口腔实践技能的能力要求已成为此口腔医学培养的核心内容,提高口腔临床技能的操作能力,一直是口腔医学教育的难题,目前本校口腔医学院的毕业考试的形式已不符合现代口腔医学培养的目标,本课题将建立以培养目标达成度为导向的口腔医学专业多站式毕业技能考核体系,从考核内容、考核模式、监督机制和效果评价等方面全面改革毕业的形式,探求一个适合现代口腔执业医师要求和能力的考核考试方法,以适应口腔执业医师考试的形式和提高口腔医学专业学生的实践操作技能。     

腹腔镜技能考核评估运用及思考

客观、准确、系统的腹腔镜技能考核评估方式可及时、有效的反馈培训效果,促使学员更熟练的掌握腹腔镜基本技能,更好的服务临床实践,同时能让培训机构发现培训过程中存在的问题,针对性调整培训方案,提高培训效率,推进培训的可持续发展。然而,由于腹腔镜培训模式复杂多样,各具特色,依据不同培训目的、方法,衍生出的考核方式也不尽相同,常使其易被忽视。本文就国内外腹腔镜技能常用的评估方法及其特征、运用进行总结归纳,为腹腔镜技能评估更好的在临床前腹腔镜培训体系中运用提供参考。     

三轨教学模式在肿瘤内科临床教学中的应用价值

目的分析肿瘤内科临床教学中三轨教学模式的应用价值。方法采用分层抽样法抽选2018年1月-2018年12月在本院实习的学生共68名纳入本次实验,并用均等双盲划分法将其中34例纳入对照组(采取传统教学法),剩余34例纳入观察组(采取三轨教学模式),观察两组教学效果。结果观察组理论及技能操作考核成绩比对照组更高,同时在提升学习积极性、掌握理论知识、培养临床能力、培养思维能力、培养自学能力、提升文献查阅能力、提升团队协作力、提升分析解决问题能力方面评分均高于对照组(P<0.05)。结论肿瘤内科的临床教学中采取三轨教学模式效果显著,能调动学生的主观能动性,提升其理论知识及技能操作水平,培养其临床实践能力及临床思维能力,值得采用。